The Bengal governor, who is the chancellor of state-aided universities, including Jadavpur University, has sought an explanation from the JU vice-chancellor for holding a meeting of the university’s executive council to discuss the annual convocation on December 24.

The council meeting was held on December 17 after the state government gave its permission to only discuss the issue of convocation.

The letter from governor C.V. Ananda Bose addressed to officiating VC Bhaskar Gupta says: “It is legally enjoined upon you to convene the executive council meeting sufficiently in advance and seek the approval of the Hon’ble chancellor for the date of the convocation. However, this procedure has not been
adopted and the executive council meeting has been hurriedly convened on December 17, proposing the date of holding the convocation on December 24....”

The executive council is JU’s highest decision-making body.

Calls and text messages from this newspaper to VC Gupta failed to elicit any response. In response to an email from The Telegraph, the chancellor’s office said: “Your email is received and is being examined.”

A JU official said the VC has sought an appointment of the chancellor on Friday to clarify the university’s stance.

Manojit Mandal, a member of the executive council, said: “The chancellor is unnecessarily creating complications ahead of the convocation.”