C.V. Ananda Bose, Bengal governor and chancellor of state-aided universities by virtue of his office, on Friday ordered a judicial inquiry into "corruption, violence and misuse of university campuses in West Bengal for electioneering and political purposes".

Bose's order came hours after education minister Bratya Basu accused the chancellor of "undermining and usurping the powers" of the state government and the "functioning of state-aided universities".

Basu had also accused the chancellor of "self-assuming the powers which are clearly and categorically not catered for, with the sole intention to unilaterally run the State Aided Universities in a mode and manner suitable to him alone".

A statement released from the Raj Bhavan on Friday afternoon said: "Chancellor and Governor ordered Judicial enquiry into corruption, violence and misuse of University campuses in West Bengal for electioneering and political purposes. The enquiry will be headed by a one-man Commission headed by a retired Judge of the Hon. Supreme Court/ High Court.”

Sources in the Raj Bhavan said Bose would himself constitute the commission.

The state government cited rules framed in December 2019 in its advisory. The rules say a VC cannot call a meeting of the decision-making body without the government’s approval.

Bose said on Thursday: “there is no power/authority vested in the state government or its higher education department to issue directions to the university not to convene meetings of Executive committee/court or to interfere in functioning in any manner. The VC is the only authority empowered to convene such meetings. (see section 9(2) of Calcutta University Act).”

Basu countered Bose. He said it was true that “such a provision does not find mention in the Act (CU Act), but all the provisions of the Act, are guided by the Rules framed (in 2019)”.