West Bengal Governor Accepts 6 Out of 31 Professors Suggested for Interim Vice-Chancellor Positions

West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose has accepted 6 out of the 31 professors suggested by the state government for appointment as interim vice-chancellors in state-run universities. The West Bengal Higher Education Department had requested the Governor, who is also the Chancellor of state-run universities, to appoint interim VCs in institutions where the posts are vacant.

Of the 31 professors suggested by the state government, Bose accepted 6 names and rejected the rest. The request was made by the senior special secretary of the West Bengal Higher Education Department based on the consensus reached between him and the chief minister at the behest of the Supreme Court. The Chancellor will appoint interim VCs in universities where the posts are vacant from among the six accepted professors.

Why this matters: The appointments come after a conflict between the state government and the Governor's office over the selection of vice-chancellors. The Supreme Court had earlier directed the state government to immediately appoint interim vice-chancellors in 6 universities from a list provided by the state. The Governor's decision to accept only 6 out of 31 suggested names highlights the ongoing tensions over the appointment process.

Incidentally, on the previous day, the Attorney General of India R Venkataramani held an hour-long discussion with Bose at Raj Bhavan in this connection. The Attorney General informed the Supreme Court of the decision to appoint 6 interim VCs, and the court directed that the 'needful' be done within a week.

However, the Chancellor clarified that the Supreme Court did not direct him to appoint the government's nominees as VCs, and reaffirmed the Chancellor's authority in appointing VCs. The state's Higher Education minister expressed confusion over the Chancellor's role, stating that the VCs should be appointed from the names recommended by the state government, as per the Attorney General's submission to the Supreme Court.

Key Takeaways

• West Bengal Governor accepted 6 out of 31 professors suggested for interim VCs.
• The state govt had requested the Governor to appoint interim VCs in vacant posts.
• The Governor's decision highlights ongoing tensions over the appointment process.
• The Attorney General informed SC about appointing 6 interim VCs, court directed 'needful'.
• The Chancellor clarified SC did not direct him to appoint govt's nominees as VCs.