The ;atest instance of friction between the West Bengal government and the Raj Bhavan came to the fore on Thursday, after State Education Minister Bratya Basu termed Governor C V Ananda Bose’s decision to appoint interim vice-chancellors (V-Cs) of 11 state universities as “illegal” and asked the academics not to accept the offer. The minister claimed that the Governor appointed the 11 interim V-Cs “without consulting the state education department.” Governor Bose, however, dismissed the minister's claim on Friday. “I came to know from the media that the Honourable Governor has appointed vice-chancellors in 11 universities. This appointment was made without any consultation with the office, which is completely contrary to the current rules for the appointment of vice-chancellors and is illegal,” Basu tweeted. #HED pic.twitter.com/N4AqOg3V5m — Bratya Basu (@basu_bratya) June 1, 2023 “In this unprecedented situation, we are taking legal advice on what course of action to take in the future. All the newly appointed vice-chancellors are respectfully requested by the Higher Education Department to reject this appointment,” Basu added. On Friday, Governor Bose said that there had been consultation but that his office had not necessarily agreed with the state government's recommendations. “Consultation does not mean concurrence,” Bose said on the sidelines of a programme organised at the Raj Bhavan. On Thursday, Governor Bose, in his capacity as chancellor of universities, started appointing interim vice-chancellors at all the universities where such vacancies exist. The 11 state universities where new interim V-Cs have been appointed are the University of Kalyani, the University of Burdwan, Sanskrit College and University, Sidho Kanho Birsha University, Kazi Nazrul University, Dakshin Dinajpur University, University of Calcutta, Jadavpur University, Bankura University, Babasaheb Ambedkar Education University and Diamond Harbour Women's University. MEET THE NEW INTERIM VICE-CHANCELLORS: Amalendu Bhunia (Kalyani University, Nadia) Bhunia is Dean, faculty of arts & commerce at Kalyani University and former head, department of commerce. He has been made the interim vice-chancellor of Kalyani University by the Governor. Previously, Bhunia was a Reader at the department of commerce, Fakir Chand College in Diamond Harbour. Dr Bhunia obtained first class in his graduation [B. Com (Hons)] and first class master degree [M. Com] from the University of Calcutta. Dr. Bhunia holds a Ph.D. on “Liquidity Management of Public Sector Enterprises in India” from the University of Kalyani. Amitava Dutta (Jadavpur University, Kolkata) Dutta, who is a professor, at power engineering, Jadavpur University, was made the pro vice-chancellor of the university in February this year. He completed his BE from Jadavpur University in 1987, ME in 1992 (JU) and Ph.D from IIT-Kharagpur in 1999. He has been a professor at the power engineering department since 2003. Recently, he was named interim V-C of Jadavpur University by the Governor. Biswajit Ghosh (Burdwan University, East Burdwan) A senior professor at the department of sociology, his volume on “Social Movements: Concepts, Experiences and Concerns” has become popular among the students and teachers. At present, he is involved in analysing vulnerabilities of children and women during the Covid-19 pandemic. Dhananjoy Rakshit (Sidho Kanho Birsha University, Purulia) He is a professor at the department of commerce in SKBU. He is a former dean, Faculty Council of PG Studies in Commerce. Rakshit has more than 36 years of teaching experience. He did his Ph.D (on income tax) in 2000. Debashis Bandyopadhyay (Kazi Nazrul University, Asansol, West Burdwan district) An English professor at Rabindra Bharati University, he has now been named as interim V-C of Kazi Nazrul University at Asansol in West Burdwan district. He did his MA (Jadavpur University), PGCTE (CIEFL, Hyderabad), Ph.D. (The English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad). Bandyopadhyay is a Fulbright Doctoral and Professional Fellow (California State University, CA, USA), Charles Wallace Post-Doctoral Fellow (St. Antony’s College, Oxford University), Visiting Professor, Greece; Visiting Professor, RGNIYD, Chennai. Goutam Buddha Sural (Bankura University) He is professor at the department of English in Bankura University. Dr. Goutam Buddha Sural has authored and co-authored multiple peer-reviewed scientific papers and presented works at many national and international conferences. Kajal De (Diamond Harbour Women's University, South 24 Parganas district) She was a professor of mathematics in Netaji Subhas Open University. De was made the interim vice-chancellor of Diamond Harbour Women’s University by the Governor in March for a period of three months. Recently, the Governor has extended his term at the interim V-C of the said university. She is the former Director School of Sciences and Head, Dept. of Mathematics at Netaji Subhas Open University. Raj Kumar Kothari (Sanskrit College and University, Kolkata) He is a professor of political science at Diamond Harbour Women's University in South 24 Parganas district. He is also an author and penned several books on international relations. Santa Datta (De) (Calcutta University) She is a professor at the department of home science and previously served as dean, faculty council for the Post Graduate Studies in Fine Arts, Music and Home Science. She has been teaching at CU since 2010. She was made the interim V-C of the said university by the Governor. Soma Bandyopadhyay (Baba Saheb Ambedkar Education University, Kolkata) Bandyopadhyay previously served as vice-chancellor of West Bengal University of Teachers' Training, Education Planning and Administration, Sanskrit College and University and Diamond Harbour Women's University. She has also served as director, Indian Institute of Social Welfare & Business Management, Kolkata; director, Women Studies Research Centre, University of Calcutta; registrar at University of Calcutta and head, department of Hindi, University of Calcutta. In 2013, Bandyopadhyay won the Sahitya Akademi Award for translation. She has authored numerous books and research articles. Souren Bandyopadhyay (Dakshin Dinajpur University) Souren Banerjee is a professor at the Bengali department of the Gour Banga University, has been made the interim vice-chancellor of South Dinajpur University (SDU) in Balurghat of Dakshin Dinajpur district in north Bengal. He is the only vice-chancellor among the 11 appointed the Governor recently who has expressed his inability to take up the new post. Speaking to mediapersons, Banerjee said he is unable to accept the new offer as there is no authority to release him from his current position. “I also have not got any intimation from the state Higher Education department in this regard. Therefore, I cannot join and have conveyed the same to the Chancellor,” said Banerjee.
