Before 'Article 355 comes 354', says Bengal Governor after meeting with Edu. Minister, VCs

Recently, there have been speculations about suggestive comments made by Governor CV Anand Bose on Article 355 during a press conference. In a meeting with the Education Minister and Vice-Chancellors of State Universities at Raj Bhavan, the Governor was asked about Article 355 and replied, "We are moving towards 355. But before that comes 354." This statement has created intense speculation about the Governor's intentions regarding the article.

Article 355 of the Indian Constitution empowers the Central Government to intervene in the affairs of a state if the Governor feels that the state's governance has deteriorated to the extent that it cannot be controlled by the state government. It allows the Centre to use its armed forces and other resources to restore order in the state.

On the other hand, Article 354 of the Indian Constitution deals with the punishment for assaulting or using criminal force to deter a public servant from discharging their duty. This article allows for imprisonment and a fine for the offender.

The Governor recently made a strong statement regarding the attack on Union Minister Nishit Pramanik, where he stated that "the application of Article 355 has been requested from various quarters. The Governor cannot be a silent spectator if the law and order situation in the state deteriorates." However, the statement did not have any official signature, leading to legal complications.

The Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, had suggested resolving these complications by holding discussions with the Governor. As a result, a meeting was held, and the Vice-Chancellors of State Universities handed over their resignation letters to the Governor, which he accepted. The Chief Minister and Governor have agreed to set up a search committee and make legal amendments to ensure the proper functioning of universities in the state.