The higher education department has asked Rabindra Bharati University not to hold its executive council meeting on December 4 as some items on its proposed agenda are allegedly in “absolute violation” of the West Bengal Universities (Control of Expenditure) Act 1976.
The letter points out one of the items — the proposed discussion on the disciplinary proceedings against suspended registrar Subir Maitra, an issue “presently under judicial scrutiny”.
An official of the department said a subject under judicial scrutiny cannot be discussed in an executive council meeting.
“If the agenda had anything to do with students’ issues, we could have considered permitting the meeting. However, the 10-point agenda sent to the department
had nothing to do with students’ issues. Rather they violate the West Bengal Universities (Control of Expenditure) Act 1976. One of the items on the agenda is under judicial scrutiny,” the official said.
The letter also says that since there is no regular vice-chancellor at the university, holding a council meeting would violate “Rule 3 (5) of the West Bengal State University (Terms and Conditions of the Vice-Chancellor)... Rules 2019”.
Since July 2023, the university has been running under a former chief justice of the Karnataka High Court. The governor allegedly appointed him as the officiating VC without consulting the state government.
The education department has initiated a search to appoint a full-term VC.
The letter sent to the university’s registrar on November 28 says: “Some proposed agenda in the proposed EC (Executive Council) meeting is in absolute violation of West Bengal Universities (Control of Expenditure) Act, 1976, and also certain issues have been included in the agenda the subject matter of which is presently under judicial
scrutiny.”
An education department official said one of the issues to be taken up at the proposed
63rd Executive Council meeting is that it will consider the recommendations of a committee for the promotion of teachers under the career advancement scheme and the application of a daily wage employee.
“This violates the West Bengal Universities (Control of Expenditure) Act, 1976,” the official said.
On April 1, the higher education department sent a communication to all state-aided universities asking them to “abstain from violating provisions” of the state government act by “extending CAS (career advancement scheme) benefit”.
The state government’s letter to the RBU registrar also said: “Since there is no regular vice-chancellor at RBU, holding executive council meeting will be in violation of of “Rule 3 (5) of the West Bengal State University (Terms and Conditions of the Vice-Chancellor).....Rules 2019 if done without the approval of the state government. No such approval has been granted from this end”.
When contacted, officiating VC Subhro Kamal Mukherjee said: “I do not know about this (the department’s communication). Speak to the registrar.”
Calls and text messages to officiating registrar Ashis Samanta went unanswered.
Last updated on 03 Dec 2024
