Jadavpur University will take legal opinion to find out whether it can hold the annual convocation on December 24 after the governor, in his capacity as chancellor, told JU that the event “be kept in abeyance”.
A letter from the governor’s secretariat to officiating vice-chancellor Buddhadeb Sau on December 19 says: “I am further directed by the Hon’ble chancellor of the University to inform that the Vice-Chancellor of the Jadavpur University has not been authorised to convene the meeting of the Court or the Convocation.”
“The instructions issued earlier vide this office... is also brought to the kind notice of the Vice-Chancellor of Jadavpur University, viz, ‘in the background of the fact that certain related issues are sub judice in the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India and the prevailing uncertainties’, both the Convocation and the Court meetings requested for, may be kept in abeyance till further orders.”
The letter also asks the VC to send a compliance report.
The higher education department had last week granted JU permission, with certain riders, to hold the annual convocation and convene meetings of the university’s executive council and court to discuss preparations for the event.
The council met on Monday to approve certain formalities for the convocation. JU then wrote to governor C.V. Ananda Bose seeking permission to hold a meeting of the court.
The chancellor is chairman of the court and convocation-related formalities need to ratified by the court as well.
JU was forced to hold an emergency meeting of the executive council on Wednesday evening, following the receipt of letter from the chancellor’s office.
“We are seeking legal opinion from the advocate general.... The university wants to know whether it can still hold the convocation or should call the event degree-awarding ceremony?” JU registrar Snehamanju Basu said.
Goutam Maity, a member of the executive council, said: “The chancellor recently attended the convocation of Vidyasagar University and Kalyani University.... The outcome of the case which is being fought in the Supreme Court is binding on these two universities as well.”
Education minister Bratya Basu posted on his X handle: “Considering the Jadavpur University’s statute and the long-cherished tradition and interest and convenience of the students, the higher education department permitted the convocation to be held on December 24 despite the legal hassles. However, the honourable chancellor did not permit holding the mandatory court meeting, citing legal uncertainties. But within the scope of the same legal parameters, he had presided over the convocation of several state-aided universities without consulting the state government.”