Principal’s body writes to ex-CJI on Raj Bhavan staffer in VC selection committee
Times of India | 19 August 2025
Kolkata: A day before the committee led by ex-CJI UU Lalit convenes in Kolkata to decide on vice-chancellors for 15 state-run universities, an apex college principal's body in Bengal on Monday asked him to reconsider the inclusion of a former IAS officer, currently working in Raj Bhavan, in the panel.
The All Bengal Principal's Council wrote to Justice Lalit saying that in the backdrop of the Bengal CM and governor differing on VC selections, the presence of an officer working in Raj Bhavan could disrupt the balance. Some other academicians pointed out during the day that an ex-VC, who has recently been removed on alleged graft charges, was still in the committee.
The council wrote to the ex-CJI: "As a top ranking official, working for the Hon'ble Chancellor, his impartiality in the process remains open to question, since the Hon'ble Chief Minister and Hon'ble Chancellor have taken different positions regarding the choice of candidates as revealed in the Hon'ble Supreme Court Order dated 1st August 2025. The post of Vice-Chancellor, we all know, is of immeasurable significance in the effective administration and functioning of top-level institutions of higher education.
" The council alleged that this would also give rise to a "conflict of interest".
The council also claimed that a shortlisted candidate lacked the requisite 10 years' experience. "It has come to our knowledge that one of the candidates being called for interview for VC's post in Sanskrit College and University lacks the required ten (10) years' experience as professor. It is a binding rule that no relaxation is possible as to eligibility criteria on the date of application," the letter read.
Following the recent Supreme Court order, the last round of interviews for VC selection for 15 universities will start on Tuesday and end on Thursday.
A source said Calcutta University and North Bengal University have shortlisted three candidates each for the final round of interviews. Earlier, a section of academicians in Bengal had raised questions against this interview panel. A higher education department official said, "As the process is going to start afresh, some academicians have asked to re-check the entire process to make it error-free.