Summary
University has been without a VC since June 9 after three month-tenure of Nirmalya Narayan Chakrabarti came to end on June 8
The teachers of Rabindra Bharati University have written to governor C.V. Ananda Bose for appointing a vice-chancellor “at the earliest” because several academic activities have stalled in the absence of a VC.
The teachers in their letter to Bose, who is the ex-officio chancellor of the state universities, said activities like publishing the results of the undergraduate final semester students, implementing infrastructure-related projects, decisions related to rolling out the four-year undergraduate programme and processing new admission from the ensuing academic session could not be initiated as the decision-making bodies are not unable to meet in the absence of a VC.
The university has been without a VC since June 9 after the three month-tenure of Nirmalya Narayan Chakrabarti came to an end on June 8.
Governor Bose had appointed Chakrabarti, is a professor of philosophy at the RBU, in the interim capacity in early March.
The letter signed by Debabrata Das, the general secretary of the teachers’ association which was also copied to education minister Bratya Basu, says: “We, the teachers of Rabindra Bharati University, appeal to your judicious self for the appointment of the vice-chancellor at our university at the earliest. You are well aware that the post of vice-chancellor at our university is lying vacant for more than a couple of weeks.”
“As a consequence of which even some of the basic administrative as well academic activities such as holding academic committee meetings for taking necessary decisions with regard to the four-year undergraduate programme and processing new admission from the coming academic session, conducting PhD viva, publishing the results of UG final semester students, completing the process of promotion of teachers, implementing infrastructural activities, etc, could not either be initiated or completed,” it stated.
The letter says: “Most unfortunately, no one is even assigned with the responsibility of looking after the office of the VC during the interim period”.
Governor Bose could not be contacted as his number was switched off.
Emails to his personal address and the addresses uploaded on the website of Raj Bhavan and WhatsApp messages failed to elicit any response.
The Telegraph reported on Sunday that the chancellor has not appointed an interim VC in any of the eight universities where the VC’s post fell vacant on June 9.
The chancellor — who had appointed 11 interim VCs allegedly unilaterally on June 1, triggering protests from education minister Bratya Basu — has not yet acted with respect to these eight universities, said an official in the education department.
A public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed by a retired professor in Calcutta High Court against the chancellor’s decision to appoint 11 interim VCs without consulting the education department and in alleged contravention of the West Bengal State Universities (Terms and Conditions of Service of the Vice Chancellor & the Manner and Procedure of Official Communication) Rules, 2019.
Bratya Basu said in a text message: “I won’t comment as the matter is subjudice”.
Das said: “When the chancellor came to the university in early May, he insisted on introducing the four-year UG programme following the UGC’s recommendation. But the same could not be implemented as we don’t have a VC who is required to provide the academic leadership in this critical juncture.”
Last updated on 22 Jun 2023
