Bengal Governor likely to appoint interim V-Cs for nine more varsities

The nine universities where interim vice-chancellors would be appointed soon include Darjeeling University, Rani Rashmoni University, Mahatma Gandhi University, Alipurduar University and Cooch Behar Panchanan Barma University, sources said, adding that the appointment letters will be sent out soon. “The appointments were made in accordance with the provisions of the University Grants Commission (UGC) Act, 1956. The Governor is the chancellor of all state-run universities in West Bengal,” an official said.

Earlier this year, the Governor had similarly appointed interim vice-chancellors of 11 state universities, ignoring objections of the West Bengal government.

Following the latest round of appointments made by the Governor, state education minister Bratya Basu termed Bose’s move as “unconstitutional” and “illegal”. Addressing a news conference at the state Assembly premises, Basu said, “The Governor’s recent action is aimed at bankrupting the higher education system.

He is destroying the statutes of respective state universities. Such appointments have been made without consulting anybody. He is acting in a dictatorial manner… We will not remain silent spectators to such action by the governor,” said Basu.

Basu also took a dig at Bose and said at times the Governor behaves like “James Bond”. “He is behaving in such a manner that he is the chancellor, vice-chancellor and the head of the state education department at the same time.

The Governor is insulting the chief minister Mamata Banerjee by completely ignoring her administration and police decisions.…When Jagdeep Dhankhar was the Governor of the state, there was at least some space for discussions.

But there is no such space during the tenure of the present Governor. He is behaving like James Bond,” said Basu.
The CPI(M) also hit out at the Governor and accused him of appointing “ non-academic persons as interim VCs”. CPI(M) central committee member Sujan Chakraborty said, “He is appointing those as interim VCs, who have links with RSS and do not have the requisite 10-year experience as full-term professors. He is appointing non-academic persons as interim VCs.”

The BJP, meanwhile, came out in support of the Governor and said that he was acting in the best interests of the universities. “I am neither a spokesperson of the Governor or Raj Bhavan. But I can say that he is working for the best. He is serious about the future of the universities and its students. Instead of targeting the Governor, the state government should work to resolve the issues concerning the higher education department,” said BJP spokesperson Shamik Bhattacharya.

Withdraw Sept 2 circular for V-Cs:

Govt to Governor

The West Bengal higher education department on Monday wrote to the Governor CV Ananda Bose’s secretariat at Raj Bhavan and urged him to withdraw the September 2 circular which stated that vice-chancellors were the “principal executive officers of state universities” and other officials of the institutions are “not to take orders directly from the government or execute those without their consent”.