State universities head towards the doldrums

Moreover,universities cannot do much because Chancellor and Governor M K Narayanan had in June ‘advised’ varsities to keep elections and appointments on hold.

The terms of statutory and highest decision-making bodies such as Senate and Syndicate of University of Calcutta and Vidyasagar University have come to an end.

Also,the terms of the vice-chancellors of Presidency University and Jadavpur University are ending in October and the heads of Burdwan University and Vidyasagar University have submitted their resignations.

While those whose terms are ending are not willing to continue,Burdwan University V-C Subrata Pal has pointed to the “adverse atmosphere of teaching and learning in the state” for his decision.

Though some point out that these vice-chancellors are unwilling as they were appointed during the Left rule,what is important is that in this situation,the functioning of the universities may come to a standstill.

Interestingly,the term of an expert committee set up by the state government on June 9 to go into the functioning of universities as well as the appointment of vice-chancellors and teachers,has also come to an end.

Teachers from various universities say there has not been a single recruitment after February,when elections were announced,because of the model code of conduct then and now because of the advisory from the chancellor.

A higher education department official said the government will come up with an ordinance to deal with the situation.

“A note on the proposed ordinance for the functioning of universities has already been sent to Writer’s Buildings. Since the chief minister is busy with other issues,a decision on this will come anytime soon,” said the official.

There is ample hint of an ordinance as the Assembly is not going to meet before November and early in September,state Education Minister Bratya Basu met the Governor twice on this issue.

Former higher education minister Sudarshan Roychoudhury puts the blame on the chancellor for issuing an advisory to universities,asking them not to function beyond their routine affairs.

“The state government is digging the grave of autonomy in the name of reforms in higher education,” said Roychowdhury.

“There is a crisis in the functioning of the universities. The solution for this has to given by the chancellor only,” said MLA and Professor of Jadavpur University Taun Naskar.