Bengal Gov accepts resignation of 6 V-Cs

Addressing a joint press conference with the Education Minister on Tuesday, Governor Bose said: “Education must be treated as a no-conflict zone. Bengal has always been famous for its education and refined culture. That era should be brought back again. The Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) talked about self-reliant India. Education will play the biggest role in achieving the goal of a self-reliant India.”

A press release issued by the Raj Bhavan read: “Finally, the problems related to the vice-chancellorship of the state universities began to untangle… Today, the honourable Governor gave the green signal for the formation of the search committee as per the University Grants Commission (UGC) guidelines and the Supreme Court directives. The search committee will select the names of the new V-Cs and submit the names of suitable candidates to the chancellor within three months.”

The Governor also said that attempts were made to find a permanent solution to the appointment of V-Cs to state universities in the meeting.

“During the meeting today, all six vice-chancellors having completed their tenures submitted their resignations to the Governor, ex-officio chancellor of state universities, to facilitate the process of selecting new V-Cs. Bose accepted their resignations and asked them to continue as caretakers for a period of three-month or till their predecessors are appointed,” the statement read.

The Education Minister said that other vice-chancellors, who were not present in Tuesday’s meeting and have completed their tenure, will come to the Raj Bhavan on Wednesday and submit their resignations.

Basu’s meeting with the Governor is seen as a bid to defuse the rising tension between the government and the Raj Bhavan. After the meeting, Basu said a repeat of the strained relationship as seen when Jagdeep Dhankhar was in the Raj Bhavan was not an option.

“What happened between the state government and Raj Bhavan is a thing of the past. I say this with the authority that there is no chance of repeating the past. Notwithstanding the speculations and provocations, Nabanna (state secretariat) and Raj Bhavan will work together now. We will work together under the guidance and wisdom of the Honourable Governor and the visionary leadership of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee,” Basu added.

“The relationship between the state government and the Raj Bhavan should be of constructive cooperation. Governance is an ongoing process and there will be checks and balances, mid-course corrections and improvements. All constitutional authorities should play their role in a constitutional manner,” he added.

On Sunday, the Governor had termed the attack on Union Minister Pramanik’s convoy as “deplorable”, saying he will not be a “mute witness” to deterioration in law and order in the state.

The Trinamool Congress hit back at the Governor in its mouthpiece, alleging that he was fast following in the footsteps of his predecessor Dhankhar.