The state higher education department has rescinded the order by which Saikat Maitra, the vice-chancellor of state’s technology university was reappointed for a four-year term starting from February 2021.
Malayendu Saha, the chairman of the state JEE board, has been appointed as the VC of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University of Technology (MAKAUT) for a period of six months or till the appointment of the next VC.
However, Maitra on Monday moved Calcutta High Court challenging the removal and the court has granted an interim stay.
Justice Kaushik Chandra is scheduled to hear the case again on Tuesday.
The removal of Maitra came to light after the department sent an email notification on July 29 stating: “The governor is hereby pleased….. to rescind the department’s order dated 26.02.21 with immediate effect....” Maitra could not be contacted.
His lawyer, Uttam Kumar Mandal, said the removal was “illegal” as the notification did not cite any reason explaining why he was forced to discontinue midway.
Maitra was supposed to continue as the VC till February 2025.
Education minister Bratya Basu explained the reasons behind the removal at a press conference on Monday evening.
He said the “removal of difficulty clause” under which Maitra was reappointed as the VC, was not applicable according to the statute of the technology university.
“According to the statute of the university, the removal of difficulty clause cannot be applicable anymore. He (Maitra) was reappointed in February 2021. We sought the opinion of the legal department. The legal department has told us this reappointment order is no longer tenable by applying this clause. Therefore, he no longer can continue beyond July 26,” Basu said.