Clashes Resurface Between Bengal Government And Governor Over Appointment Of VCs

The clash between the Mamata Banerjee led Government of West Bengal and the Governor of West Bengal have been a recurring issue, with allegations and counter allegations finding their way to twitter handles as was seen in the time of Jagdeep Dhankar. New tensions seem to have come up to the surface again and this time it is pertaining to the appointment of the Vice-Chancellors in several public Universities in West Bengal.

The present Governor, CV Ananda Bose has recently appointed 11 interim Vice Chancellors in the State Universities to which Bratya Basu, the Education Minister had strictly ordered for non-compliance. The Universities are the University of Kalyani, the University of Burdwan, The Sanskrit College and University, Sidho Kanho Birsha University, Kazi Nazrul University, Dakshin Dinajpur University, the University of Calcutta, Jadavpur University, Bankura University, Baba Saheb Ambedkar Education University, and Diamond Harbour Women’s University. He contented that the appointments are in contravention to the proper legal method of appointing the VCs in West Bengal.

According to Bratya Basu, no consultation was done with the Department of Education, Government of West Bengal before Ananda Bose had appointed the said Professor in the role of Vice-Chancellors. The Department informed the Media that Legal actions are being contemplated in this regard and Bratya Basu asked the VCs not to accept the offers and decline them.

The Vice Chancellors had asked for activity reports, in the form of : weekly activity reports" from the VCs and only those who sent it have been allowed an extension and those who did not have been removed from the interim role even when the Minister recommended an extension to all the VCs. The Press Release  brings out yet another controversy as it mentions that some VCs have indulged in factional fights and internal politics in the University, neglecting the students' welfare. The reminder of the weekly reports were last sent out on the 23 May from the office of the Chancellor. Those VCs who did not respond were slapped with show-cause notices.

This issue is again being seen as a BJP vs TMC tussle. The BJP has shown solidarity with the decision of the Governor and said that TMC led Government flouted all UGC guidelines while appointing the VCs in the public universities.

Prof. Om Prakash Mishra, former interim VC of North Bengal University, has been applauded for his commendable developmental work for the University during his brief  stint. He, along with few other former VCs gathered at the Press Club, Kolkata on 2nd June for a Press Conference “ On the looming uncertainty of leadership and administration of public universities in the state”( from his official FB page) where he mentioned that the VCs cannot be made a scapegoat in such a tussle and the Governor by no means has a legal authority to directly communicate with the VCs or ask for reports. Only 3 VCs who have submitted such reports have also flouted the laws, according to Prof. Mishra.

Deb Narayan Bandopadhyay, former VC of Bankura Universities expressed his disappointment at the state of affairs and mentioned how all of them have been diligently handling the leadership of the state universities and not granting their extension as VCs is insulting.

In their Joint Press Release, they have vehemently shown disappointment at the treatment meted out to them. The State Government had also shown strong reaction against the abrupt decision( without consultation) to not allow the VCs their due extension. The VCs have also requested the intervention of the Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee in such a situation of uncertainty.

Professor Manojit Mandal of the Department of English, who has been recently applauded across all quarters for demarcating a “gender-neutral washroom” in the Department of English, has also vehemently opposed such a move from the Chancellor and thinks that the autocratic behaviour of the Governor is unacceptable and must be condemned under all circumstances.

Only time will reveal whether this shall turn into yet another turmoil between the state and the Governor, with active participation from the BJP, like it has been on earlier occasions.