JUTA Raises Concern Over Bengal Govt, Raj Bhavan Stand-Off

JUTA expressed its concern on regarding the ongoing disagreement between Raj Bhavan and the West Bengal government regarding the selection of interim vice-chancellors for 11 state universities.

Jadavpur University Teachers’ Association voices concern over Bengal govt, Raj Bhavan stand-off.

The Jadavpur University Teachers' Association (JUTA) expressed its concern on Saturday regarding the ongoing disagreement between Raj Bhavan and the West Bengal government regarding the selection of interim vice-chancellors for 11 state universities. JUTA appealed to both parties to find a resolution and end the current stalemate, as reported by PTI.

Just a few hours after the governor's office released a list appointing interim vice-chancellors in 11 state universities on Thursday, West Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu said the Raj Bhavan's decision is "unilateral" and "violates the law".

The governor has appointed interim vice-chancellors for several universities, including Calcutta University, Jadavpur University, and Burdwan University, among others, as part of the recent developments.

A Jadavpur University (JU) official claimed that Pro-VC Amitabha Dutta took charge as the interim VC on Friday after his name was recommended by Governor Ananda Bose.

"He was the pro-VC and entrusted with certain new responsibilities. With the varsity having no permanent VC after the end of the tenure of Suranjan Das, it is quite natural that Dutta will have to discharge his duty. Whether that is strictly as pro-VC, as anointed by the state government, or as interim VC, as decreed by the chancellor, remains to be seen," a source said.

In a statement, JUTA said, "The reason for the impasse in different state universities stems from the unlawful move by the state to appoint interim VCs, which have been quashed by the court."

"By omitting varsity representatives from the search committee and retaining officials from the state administration, the higher education department has dealt a blow to the functional autonomy of universities," JUTA General Secretary Partha Pratim was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

Roy said, "We are in favour of recruitments that are legal. No unilateral decision by the state and chancellor is acceptable." Referring to the situation in Calcutta University, WBCUTA president Subhoday Dasgupta said with no full-time VC, the institute is facing difficulties in academic and administrative matters.

Clearing the "deadlock" in the appointment of interim vice-chancellors to 27 universities, Governor Bose, in his capacity as chancellor of universities, has started appointing interim VCs where the vacancies exist, a Raj Bhavan statement said.