Govt sends VC nominee list, guv says no SC direction to appoint state’s candidates

Govt sends VC nominee list, guv says no SC direction to appoint state’s candidates

Apr 18, 2024, 03.52 AM IST

Kolkata: It might have been a state holiday but the higher education department on Wednesday sent a list of names to C V Ananda Bose to “promptly” appoint interim vice-chancellors at six universities following a Supreme Court directive to the governor, also the chancellor, to appoint VCs from among those recommended by the state. Bose, however, said the apex court never asked him to appoint VCs from among state nominees.

The state recommended to appoint Bhaskar Gupta from Jadavpur University’s electronics and telecommunication engineering as the JU VC and Pabitra Chattopadhyay from Burdwan University’s chemistry department as the Gour Banga University VC. The other state nominees are former VCs Prem Poddar for Darjeeling Hills University, Tapan Kumar Biswas for Harichand Guruchand University, Amiyo Panda for Sadhu RamChand Murmu University in Jhargram and Ashutosh Ghosh for Rani Rashmoni Green University.

Raj Bhavan issued a statement, saying: “(There is) No direction by Supreme Court that Chancellor should appoint Govt’s nominees as Vice Chancellors. Supreme Court order clarifies the Chancellor’s authority in appointing Vice Chancellors.” But it went on to add: “The Govt gave a list of 31 names... the Governor decided to choose Six names from the list...” In the SC hearing on Tuesday, attorney-general R Venkataramani, appearing for the chancellor, said he had approved six names from the list sent by the Mamata Banerjee govt.

State education minister Bratya Basu said, “It appears the hon’ble chancellor is in deep confusion regarding his role! Why is the chancellor attempting to create confusion by knitting lengthy arguments? Is the chancellor feeling insecure?”

Gupta, state VC nominee for JU, told TOI, “I have an emotional attachment with this university. If I get to work for the betterment of this university, I am ready to accept the challenge.” JU has been running without a VC ever since Bose removed interim VC Buddadeb Sau from his post hours ahead of convocation on Dec 24 last year. Though the state had asked Sau to continue as the VC, Sau had stopped attending the VC’s office.

After the proposed names were revealed, TOI spoke to Sau. He said “I was appointed when the university was going through a turmoil, and I tried my best to control the situation. I tried to serve the interest of over 4,000 students instead of serving the interest of an individual. Any suitable person can be appointed here, and I have full respect for him... I want to say the issues were not being addressed properly and I was victimised.”

Gour Banga University’s officiating VC Rajat Kishor Dey was also removed by the chancellor. The state VC nominee for university, Chottopadhyay, told TOI, “I will not comment as I have not received any confirmation from the state or Raj Bhavan.” Dey did not answer calls from TOI.

Rani Rasmani Green University’s ex-interim VC Ashutosh Ghosh said, “Darjeeling Hills, Harichand Guruchand, Sadhu RamChand Murmu and Rani Rashmoni Green universities have been running without a VC for a year.”This story had continued from a page 1 story in the newspaper. For your reading convenience we have added it below.

No SC order to pick VCs from govt’s list: Guv

A day after SC directed the governor to appoint 6 VCs from names recommended by the state, Bengal govt on Wednesday sent a list of names to Raj Bhavan. Governor C V Ananda Bose, however, claimed there was no SC directive that he should appoint govt’s nominees as VCs. In the SC on Tuesday, AG R Venkataramani, appearing for the chancellor, had said he had approved 6 names from the list sent by the govt.