JU Teachers' Body Meets Bengal Guv Bose After V-C Abstains Work Over Stalemate

The university has been facing an unprecedented crisis after Governor Bose removed Sau on “disciplinary grounds” on December 23.

West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose

Source : PTI

New Delhi: The representatives of Jadavpur University Teachers' Association (JUTA) met West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose to discuss the situation in campus in the wake of officiating vice-chancellor Buddhadeb Sau’s decision to stay away from officer over “conflicting orders from the government and the governor”, news agency PTI reported. A spokesperson of the teachers' organisation said that the governor assured them that no administrative or academic work will be affected due to the crisis.

"The governor, who is the ex-officio chancellor of JU, is very concerned about the situation and is seeking legal advice to ensure that no work at the university is delayed while Sau is absent from the office. Furthermore, the governor said the issue of a permanent VC can be resolved once the search committee is formed by the apex court. Bose has also agreed to convene a meeting to discuss the issue of the university statute and how it can be protected,” PTI quoted JUTA general secretary Partha Pratim Roy as saying.

The university has been facing an unprecedented crisis after Governor Bose removed Sau on “disciplinary grounds” on December 23. A day later, Sau inaugurated the university’s convocation after the state higher education department wrote to him saying he is still legally authorized to fulfil his responsibilities until a full-time VC takes over the duties.

The education department also said the appointment of VCs of state universities comes under the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court, which is yet to deliver its final verdict on the matter.

However, Sau said he did not think it was "prudent" to attend office and fulfil his responsibilities in the light of the current scenario situation.

According to reports, the teachers’ body also wrote to education minister Bratya Basu seeking his “active intervention” in the matter. In their letter, they also raised concern over “complete collapse of the administrative discipline required to sustain academic normalcy” in the university.