The officiating vice-chancellor of Jadavpur University said he would not “visit the office of the VC” and “sign any files" till the state government clears the air on whether he should continue as interim VC or his role was limited to the conduct of the annual convocation on December 24.
Buddhadeb Sau, the officiating VC, went to Aurobindo Bhavan, the university's administrative headquarters, on Tuesday afternoon but did not enter the VC’s office, which is on the first floor of the building.
Instead, he went to the office of pro-VC Amitava Datta, who had awarded the degree certificates to the graduating students in Sau's presence at the convocation.
Sau, a professor in the math department at JU, did not use the car designated for the VC while visiting Aurobindo Bhavan. He walked to the building.
The governor, who is ex-officio chancellor of JU and all other state-aided universities in Bengal, had ordered Sau’s removal from the post of officiating VC for going ahead with the convocation disregarding Raj Bhavan's instructions.
The university had last Thursday written to the state education department seeking clarity on the status of the officiating VC as a section of officials and teachers at the university wanted the JU registrar to clarify whether Sau was still discharging the responsibilities of VC.
“I will not sign any files (as VC) or visit the office of the VC till I receive clarity on my role. The teachers and the officials have written to the registrar about this. The registrar then wrote to the education department. I am awaiting a response,” Sau told The Telegraph.
The Jadavpur University Teachers’ Association had written to registrar Snehamanju Basu on December 28: “Please let us know the name of the vice-chancellor who has the authority to sign the official documents from today, December 28.”
The same day, the JU officers’ association requested the registrar to seek legal opinion that could “provide much-needed clarity” on the issue.
On Tuesday, Sau went to the pro-VC’s office at 3.10pm.
Fifteen minutes later, he went to the office of the controller of the examinations and then left Aurobindo Bhavan.
“Hours after the chancellor ordered my removal on December 14 evening, the (state higher education) department asked me to hold the convocation and continue as VC because no alternative was visible within that short period. The department also referred to a case in the Supreme Court. Still, questions have been raised from within the campus. Therefore, I should wait for the government’s response,” said Sau.
A case over who has the authority to appoint officiating VCs — governor or the state government — is now in the Supreme Court.
Sau last went to the VC’s office on December 27.
“The pro-VC does not have any financial power. He was asking me about this. I told him to wait for the time being. Then we will see,” Sau said.
The university has estimated that it requires Rs 15 crore to repair its buildings ahead of a visit by a team from the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) in April.
"But if the VC does not approve the projected expenditure, how can we go ahead?” a JU official said.
Sau said the university has to call a meeting of the executive council, its highest decision-making body, to approve the budget.
“The registrar calls a meeting of the council following a direction from the VC,” an official said.