Governors and State Universities: A Debate

Key Points

• 1The Governor's role as Chancellor is a subject of intense debate.
• 2This role is assigned by State university laws, not the Constitution.
• 3The model was inherited from British colonial rule.
• 4Initially, Governors remained ceremonial figures due to Congress dominance.
• 5After 1967, Governors became political instruments.
• 6The Sarkaria Commission (1983-88) revealed that over 60% of Governors had been active politicians.
• 7The Governor's powers are divided into those exercised as Governor and those conferred by statutes.
• 8Various commissions have proposed reforms, including the Rajamannar Committee and the M.M. Punchhi Commission.
• 9Alternative models include the Governor as Ceremonial Chancellor model and the State-appointed Chancellor model.