Bengal Guv appoints interim VCs in 11 varsities, edu min says it 'violates the law'

In a move that sparked controversy, West Bengal Governor Dr CV Ananda Bose appointed interim Vice-Chancellors (VCs) in 11 state universities, leading to criticism from State Education Minister Bratya Basu. Basu labeled the decision by the Raj Bhavan as "unilateral" and in violation of the law.

Governor Ananda Bose, who serves as the chancellor of universities, took this step to resolve the "deadlock" in the appointment of interim VCs in 27 universities. The governor's office stated that he has applied a middle-path approach in making these appointments.

APPOINTMENT OF INTERIM VCS

The governor's office announced the appointment of interim VCs in 11 universities, including the universities of Calcutta, Jadavpur, and Burdwan. According to the Raj Bhavan statement, the chancellor extended the services of only those VCs who complied with the instructions to submit activity reports for review.

Those who did not comply were not considered for an extension, as their contributions to the university were deemed vague, and some were even indifferent to student welfare or engaged in factional conflicts on campus.

Education Minister Bratya Basu expressed his disapproval of the governor's decision, claiming that the appointment of VCs without consulting the Department of Higher Education violated established norms and the law.

In response, the governor clarified that consultations had indeed taken place regarding the appointment of interim VCs.

The education minister stated that the department was seeking legal advice to determine the appropriate course of action in this unprecedented situation. He urged the VCs appointed without proper consultation to reject their appointments.

CHANCELLOR'S PERSPECTIVE

The Raj Bhavan emphasised that the chancellor's priority was the best interests of the students and the improvement of educational quality in the state. The statement also mentioned that future appointments as interim VCs would consider the views of the government and other stakeholders, indicating a willingness to engage in dialogue.

The clash between the governor's office and the education minister highlights the ongoing debate over the appointment of interim VCs in West Bengal's universities. The outcome of this disagreement will have significant implications for the academic landscape of the state.

(With PTI inputs)