Rabindra Bharati University will hold its executive council meeting on Wednesday despite being asked to cancel it by the state higher education department.

On Friday, the department asked the university not to hold the meeting scheduled for December 4 as some items on the proposed agenda were allegedly in “absolute violation” of the West Bengal Universities (Control of Expenditure) Act 1976.

The university’s officiating registrar has informed the department that the meeting needs to be held as it involves the teachers’ interests.

The university has been asked to clarify why the executive council meeting was called without approval from the state government.

The department’s November 28 letter said the meeting would violate the West Bengal Universities (Control of Expenditure) Act, 1976, as it would consider the recommendations of a committee for the promotion of teachers under the career advancement scheme.

On April 1, the higher education department sent a communication to all state-aided universities asking them to “abstain from violating provisions” of the state government act by “extending CAS (career advancement scheme) benefit”.

“The department has barred universities from offering the scheme as they are helmed by authorised (interim) vice-chancellors. The department wants the benefit to be offered after full-term VCs are appointed. The appointment of full-term VCs has been pending for two years. The teachers cannot be made to suffer for this,” said an RBU official.

The letter also flagged another item — the proposed discussion on the disciplinary proceedings against suspended registrar Subir Maitra, an issue “presently under judicial scrutiny”.

An official in the department said a subject under judicial scrutiny cannot be discussed in an executive council meeting.

The official said that since the university has to respond to the ongoing court case on the issue, it is important to discuss that in the meeting.

“In the council meeting, we will go through the report of the inquiry officer on the proposed disciplinary proceedings against the suspended registrar and hear the submission (of the official) about the report. This will help the university respond when the matter is heard in the court,” said an RBU official.

“The executive council meeting will be held on December 4, as directed by the officiating vice-chancellor. The state government has been informed about this,” said Ashis Samanta, the officiating registrar.