Today, 16th, April, The Supreme Court mandated that the West Bengal Governor appoints six Vice-Chancellors from a list submitted by the Mamata government. This decision reinforces the court’s involvement in key administrative appointments within the state’s educational institutions. It also reflects a collaborative effort between the judiciary and the executive to ensure the selection of qualified individuals for these prestigious roles.
New Delhi: On Tuesday, the Supreme Court instructed West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose, who serves as the chancellor of state-run universities, to appoint six qualified individuals as vice-chancellors from a pool of candidates recommended by the state government.
Attorney General R Venkataramani, representing the chancellor, informed the court that he has endorsed six names from the list submitted by the Mamata Banerjee government. There an ongoing dispute between the ruling TMC government and Bose regarding the administration of the state’s universities.
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The bench consisting of justices Surya Kant and K V Vishwanathan stated,
“The appointment of these six individuals should be done without delay.”
The bench also requested the state government to submit a revised list of qualified candidates to the chancellor’s office, who may then consider appointing additional VCs from among them. In hopes of resolving the ongoing conflict amicably, the bench mentioned the possibility of establishing a search committee later to shortlist candidates for VC positions in the remaining state-run universities.
Previously, the bench asked the governor, state government, and University Grants Commission (UGC) to propose three to five names each for a search-cum-selection committee, tasked with choosing VC candidates. Initially, the attorney general informed the bench of the chancellor’s approval of six VC appointments from the state government’s list.
He strongly opposed senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi‘s assertions, representing the state government, that the governor deliberately withholding consent for the universities bill passed by the assembly.
The West Bengal Assembly amended the law to increase the search committee’s members from three to five, a move challenged by the BJP, alleging it would further the ruling party’s influence over VC appointments.
Alluding to the state government’s lack of cooperation on the issue, the attorney general stated,
“I prefer not to elaborate further on the matter as the facts speak for themselves,”
The bench scheduled the plea for a hearing on April 30.
Earlier, the apex court requested the attorney general to utilize his “good offices” for the harmonious appointment of vice-chancellors in various state-run universities in West Bengal amidst a bitter dispute between the state government and the governor regarding the administration of the state’s universities.
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The court stressed the importance of appointing only eminent individuals as vice-chancellors and directed the Attorney General to convene a meeting with all stakeholders to resolve the issue. The most senior government law officer assured the court that he would take steps to address the situation.
The Supreme Court hearing an appeal from the West Bengal government against the Calcutta High Court’s June 28, 2023 order, which upheld the legality of the West Bengal governor’s appointment of interim vice-chancellors in 11 state-run universities. In October of the previous year, the Supreme Court halted the payment of salaries to the newly appointed interim vice-chancellors and urged the governor to meet with the chief minister informally to resolve the deadlock over VC appointments.
The court had emphasized the necessity of reconciliation between the governor and the chief minister,
“In the interest of educational institutions and the future careers of lakhs of students.”
The bench also recommended expediting the clearance of names of individuals for whom there is consensus between the state government and the governor. Previously, the high court affirmed that the chancellor possesses the authority to appoint VCs as stipulated in relevant laws.
Sanat Kumar Ghosh, a petitioner in the high court, and the West Bengal government argued that the appointments of VCs in state-run universities were unlawful since the governor had not consulted the higher education department beforehand.