The vice-chancellors of six universities today tendered resignation and were given extension by the Governor CV Ananda Bose for three months.
This will resolve the impasse that had been looming large over the universities. More vice-chancellors will resign tomorrow and be given fresh appointments for three months by the Governor. This follows a Supreme Court order.
Addressing a press conference education minister Bratya Basu said the impasse was a matter of the past and the meeting between the vice-chancellors and the Governor was very fruitful. The other vice-chancellors will tender their resignation tomorrow and will be allowed to carry on for another three months.
Meanwhile, a search committee will be set up to select new vice-chancellors. Mr Basu said the Governor would give advice in the formation of the search committee. Once the search committee is set up, selection of the new vice-chancellors will be expedited, he maintained.
Governor CV Ananda Bose said West Bengal’s past glory in education, culture and heritage should be brought back.
Mr Basu said the Governor House, Nabanna and Bikash Bhavan, where the state education department is housed, should work together to bring back the past glory of education and culture of West Bengal.
During the time of former Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar’s tenure, the state passed a legislation to make the chief minister as the chancellor of the state-run universities.
The state government gave a four year extension to the vice-chancellor of Calcutta University professor Sonali Banerjee Chakravarti without the consent of the Governor. Against the decision, a case was filed in the Supreme Court. The court ordered the removal of professor Banerjee Chakravarti.
The vice-chancellors of 23 other universities were given extension bypassing the Governor, which created a stalemate, which was cleared today