Governor of West Bengal

The Governor of West Bengal is a nominal head and representative of the President of India in the state of West Bengal. The Governor is appointed by the President for a term of five years. H.E. Gopalkrishna Gandhi is the current governor (assumed charge of office on December 14, 2004). His official residence is the Raj Bhavan.

History

In 1912 the Imperial capital of India was moved from Calcutta to Delhi and as some compensation to Bengal the Lieutenant governor with Council gave place to a Governor with a Council thus completing the circle and reverting to the position which had been obtained 200 years ago. In 1947 India achieved independence and the title of governor of Bengal remained the same at it is to the present day.

Powers and functions

The Governor enjoys many different types of powers:

*Executive powers related to administration, appointments and removals,
*Legislative powers related to lawmaking and the state legislature, that is Vidhan Sabha or Vidhan Parishad, and
*Discretionary powers to be carried out according to the discretion of the Governor.

See also: Governors of India#Powers and functions

Ex-officio Role of Governor

In his ex-officio capacity, the Governor of West Bengal is Chancellor of the universities of West Bengal (at present 14) as per the Acts of the Universities. The Universities are: University of Calcutta, Jadavpur University, University of Kalyani, Rabindra Bharati University, Vidyasagar University, University of Burdwan, North Bengal University, Netaji Subhas Open University, West Bengal University of Technology, Bengal Engineering & Science University, Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswa Vidyalaya, West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences, West Bengal University of Health Sciences and West Bengal State University. For Visva Bharati, the Governor is the Pradhana (Rector).

The Governor is also the Chairman/President of some organizations such as Victoria Memorial Hall, Indian Museum, Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Institute of Asian Studies (MAKAIAS), Calcutta Cultural Centre (Kolkata Kala Kendra ), Special Fund for R&R of Ex-servicemen, West Bengal (Rajya Sainik Board), Sri Aurobindo Samiti, Indian Red Cross Society - West Bengal State Branch, St. John Ambulance Brigade No. II (West Bengal) District, Bharat Scouts and Guides and the Bengal Tuberculosis Association.

Governor of West Bengal’s Welfare Fund, has the Governor as its Chairman. Contributions from this Fund are given to the needy people for meeting, to some extent the cost of their treatment. Besides the above, at his discretion, the Governor, accepts the position of Chief Patron/Patron or other posts in the honorary capacity, in various organizations that are rendering yeoman service to the society in different fields.

Governors of West Bengal

ee also

* West Bengal
* Governors and Lieutenant-Governors of states of India

External links

* [http://rajbhavankolkata.gov.in Raj Bhavan's (Governor's residence) official website]
** [http://rajbhavankolkata.gov.in/html/const_role.htm Constitutional role of Governor]
** [http://rajbhavankolkata.gov.in/html/ex_off.htm Ex-officio role of Governor]