Kolkata: The Mamata government has criticized West Bengal Governor CV Anand Bose’s decision to appoint interim vice-chancellors in seven universities of the state. Education Minister Bratya Basu accused the Raj Bhavan of acting in a “dictatorial manner”, claiming that the move could “destroy” the university system. The minister also said that the governor’s move was “in violation of the bill passed by the state assembly, which deals with the role and functions of the governor and the state government in universities as chancellors”. As chancellors of state universities, the governor on Sunday night appointed interim vice-chancellors in seven universities, including Presidency University, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University of Technology and University of Burdwan. Basu said at a press conference held here, ”The recent move of the governor is aimed at destroying the higher education system. He is destroying the legal status of the respective state universities. Such appointments have been made without consulting anyone. He is working in a dictatorial manner.
He said, “The governor is the chancellor of the state universities under the law but he cannot cross the limit. We will not remain mute spectators to such action of the Governor.
A group of educationists, including former vice-chancellors of state universities, termed the governor’s appointment of interim vice-chancellors in several universities as ‘arbitrary and illegal’.
A forum of educationists also said that such appointments would not benefit the state’s higher education system.
Professor Rajkumar Kothari has been appointed as the interim Vice-Chancellor of West Bengal State University, while Justice Subhrakmal Mukherjee has been made the Interim Vice-Chancellor of Presidency University. He also has the interim charge of Rabindra Bharati University.
Professor Debabrata Basu has been appointed as the interim Vice-Chancellor of Uttar Banga Agricultural University, while Professor Tapan Chanda has been made the Interim Vice-Chancellor of Maulana Abul Kamal Azad University of Technology.
Professor Gautam Chakraborty has been given the charge of Burdwan University and Professor Indrajit Lahiri has been made the interim Vice-Chancellor of Netaji Subhash Open University. Professor Shyam Sundar Dana has been appointed as the interim Vice-Chancellor of the West Bengal University of Animal and Fisheries Sciences.
The names of interim vice-chancellors of nine other universities have also been finalized and appointment letters will be issued to them “soon,” sources said.
