The higher education department has decided to ask West Bengal State University not to hold its annual convocation on April 27, an official in the department said.
The department, the official said, will convey its decision to the university in Barasat through a communication to be issued this week.
"The university (to which colleges in North 24-Parganas are affiliated) has decided to hold the convocation despite a recent 'restriction' announced by the state government on holding such ceremonies," the official told Metro.
“As the state government has not granted any permission for holding the convocation, we will ask the university not to organise the event.”
The higher education department had on April 1 issued an advisory asking state-aided universities not to hold annual convocations or meetings of their decision-making bodies without the approval of the state government. The reason: these universities are now being helmed by "officiating" vice-chancellors.
The government has alleged that the governor, acting in his capacity as chancellor of all state-aided universities, has appointed the officiating VCs without consulting the higher education department.
The department has also told the universities that convocations and meetings could not be held as the Model Code of Conduct is in force because of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Rajkumar Kothari, the officiating VC of West Bengal State University, had earlier said they had decided to organise the convocation following a nod from the governor.
“The university has just intimated us that they are going to hold the convocation. But they have not sought any approval from the department. The advisory, which is based on the West Bengal State Universities (Terms and Conditions of Service of Vice-Chancellors and Manner and Procedure of Official Communication) Rules, 2019, clearly says convocations cannot be held without permission of the state government,” the official in the higher education department who spoke to this newspaper said.
“Besides, before organising the convocation, the university has to hold a meeting of its court. We have not allowed the court to meet."
All 27 state-aided universities are headed by officiating VCs.
The state government has filed a special leave petition in the Supreme Court challenging the chancellor’s authority to appoint interim VCs unilaterally and has sought the appointment of full-term VCs through a search-cum-selection committee.
The rules enacted in December 2019 say all notices regarding convocation “shall be brought to the notice of the department”.
When this newspaper sought to know from the officiating VC whether he would proceed with the convocation once the government conveys its decision to him, he said in a text message: “I shall refer the matter to Raj Bhavan.”