He cited Supreme Court and the Calcutta High Court judgements to answer “questions” raised about his role as the Chancellor of all state universities.
“In view of the various questions raised in the public domain about the role of the Chancellor as Head of the University and the attempt by the State Government to control the Universities in West Bengal, the following legal position in the light of the law and the verdicts of the Hon’ble Supreme Court, is given for the information of all concerned.”
“The following facts have been established by a catena of judgments of the Courts: All University Acts should be in tune with the UGC Act and Regulations. Any State Act which is repugnant to UGC Regulations will not stand. The Supreme Court has observed in unequivocal terms: “…the State government has no power to appoint or re-appoint the VC.” The Calcutta High Court has further stated: “…Only the Chancellor had the power to appoint, reappoint or temporarily appoint or remove the Vice-Chancellor,” the report quoted him to be saying.
On March 31, Bose had removed Rajat Kishore Dey from the post of vice-chancellor of Gour Banga University for allegedly violating the Model Code of Conduct. However, hours later, the state government reinstated him and called his removal a “unilateral” decision by the Supreme Court and Bose.
Last week, the TMC-run professors’ organisation WebCupa had held a convention at the Gour Banga University grounds. Apart from state Education Minister Bratya Basu, about 1,700 representatives of various colleges and universities of the state participated in the event.
Citing the reinstatement order issued by the state government, Bose said, “With regard to the advisory issued by the Department of Higher Education Government of West Bengal vide ref.no. 365-Edn (u)/ HED-12016(21)/9/2024-UNV SEC –Dept. of HE Dated 01.04.2024, is misleading, illegal and contrary to the judgements of the Hon’ble Supreme Court and Hon’ble Calcutta High Court.”
“The Advisory is uncalled for and the subject matter itself is questionable. It is based on a misunderstanding and misinterpretation of the Acts and Statutes of the West Bengal Universities. No state aided University of West Bengal is “under the administrative control of Higher Education Department, Government of West Bengal”,” he further said.
Bose alleged that the state higher education Department had failed to act as the “facilitator for approval of statutes of as many as 10 newly set up universities”. “Further, the department has not shown any interest to complete the absorption process of the teachers and non-teaching staff members of the two universities which were elevated from college to university,” he added.