The higher education department will publish a fresh advertisement seeking applications for the post of vice-chancellor in two state-aided universities, an official said.

The state government had in July issued an advertisement inviting applications for the post of VC in 36 state-aided universities, following a Supreme Court order.

However, a Supreme Court-monitored search committee did not find suitable candidates for two universities — Rabindra Bharati University and the West Bengal University of Health Sciences.

“The government will again issue an advertisement seeking applications for the two universities,” the official said.

“The shortlisting of candidates for the other universities, including Presidency, Calcutta and Jadavpur, is over. However, the committee could not shortlist any candidates for Rabindra Bharati University and the West Bengal University of Health Sciences as there were no suitable applicants. So we have to publish a fresh advertisement.”

Rabindra Bharati is now headed by Suvro Kamal Mukhopadhyay, a former chief justice of Karnataka High Court, who was appointed by the governor — the ex-officio chancellor of state-aided universities — in July last year allegedly without consulting the state government.

The post of VC at the West Bengal University of Health Sciences has been vacant since August last year when the chancellor removed Suhrita Paul following allegations that she had been appointed in violation of rules laid down by the University Grants Commission (UGC).

She was allegedly selected by a search committee that did not have any representative of the UGC.

An official in the higher education department said the July 26 advertisement stated,quoting UGC regulations, that a person possessing the highest level of competence, integrity, morals and institutional commitment is to be appointed VC.

“The person to be appointed as a vice-chancellor should be a distinguished academician with a minimum of ten years’ experience as a professor in a university orten years’ of experience in a reputed research and/academic administrative organisation with proof of having demonstrated academic leadership,” the advertisement said.

The apex court took up the matter of VC appointment following a petition by the state government challenging the chancellor’s decision to appoint “authorised” — temporary — VCs without consulting the state government.

The Supreme Court made it clear in an order on July 8 that the UGC norms could not be flouted while appointing full-term VCs, amid allegations that both the state government and the chancellor had flouted norms while appointing VCs.

In March 2023, Calcutta High Court had set aside the re-appointment of VCs in several state-aided universities. The court had said thatsome of the candidates did not have 10 years’ experience as professor in a universityor 10 years’ experience working in a reputable research and/or administrativeorganisation where they had demonstrated academic leadership.

“The chancellor went to the other extreme by appointing a former chief justice of Karnataka High Court and a retired IPS officer as officiating VCs of Rabindra Bharati University and Aliah University,” said a former VC of a state-aided university.