Kolkata: The new VC of West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences (WBNUJS), Nandimath Omprakash V, appointed five deans for UG studies, PG studies, research, student affairs, and alumni affairs, outreach & communications on Wednesday — for the first time in the institute's 25-year history. The authorities said that the step was taken to harness the "true culture of collective leadership" and ensure the decision-making process is creative, democratic, and transparent.
"The deans shall decide any matter falling within their respective domains following the university rules and regulations. The VC shall be the appellate authority regarding the matters decided by the deans. Where the university rules and regulations are silent or confer discretion to the VC, the deans shall assist the VC with necessary recommendations," read the office order circulated on Nov 26.
The five deans are Arup Kumar Poddar (UG studies), Sandeepa Bhatt B (PG studies), Lovely Dasgupta (research), Anirban Mazumdar (student affairs), and Shameek Sen (alumni affairs, outreach, & communication).
Nandimath feels the future success of NUJS to grow as a truly international institution lies in its ‘collective leadership', meaning the faculty owning the institution. "The WBNUJS statute concentrates entire executive power into the VC. This power needs to be delegated to senior faculty so that the VC becomes an appellate authority. The delegation also gives the university a second chance to review its own decision and make the process of decision-making creative, collective, and transparent. Most critically, it would free up the governing bodies' time to elevate policy decisions. NUJS has the highest number of professors among the NLUs in India currently — this experience needs to be harnessed effectively. This, I believe, would also provide leadership opportunities to NUJS professors in leading bold experiments in legal education for the country," Nandimath said.
He said this will allow him to engage in transformational activities of the university.
A professor said, "This is the first time in NUJS's history that five deans have been appointed to restore the institute's intellectual infrastructure."