Today, On 1st August, West Bengal VC Appointment case Supreme Court Says, “We Thought Justice Lalit Is the Best Person to Indicate Who Is What,” as It Reviews Sealed Cover Dispute and Directs Fresh Assessment of Candidates for Remaining University Posts.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court heard a crucial matter related to the deadlock over the appointment of regular Vice-Chancellors (VCs) in West Bengal’s universities.
This long-standing issue has arisen due to a power tussle between the State Government and the Governor, who also holds the position of Chancellor for state universities.
The matter was heard by a Bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymala Bagchi.
To resolve the situation in a uniform way, the Supreme Court had earlier appointed former Chief Justice of India, Justice U.U. Lalit, as the Chairperson of the Search-cum-Selection Committees for all the state universities in West Bengal.
The court had taken this step so that despite differences in university statutes, a common mechanism could be followed for appointing Vice-Chancellors.
During the hearing today, Attorney General R. Venkataramani submitted a report to the Bench and read out paragraph 7 from it.
However, Senior Advocate Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi raised an objection regarding the way the report was submitted and said,
“It should not have been submitted in a sealed cover.”
Justice Surya Kant responded by explaining the court’s trust in Justice Lalit’s independent examination of each candidate.
He stated,
“We thought Justice Lalit, having examined every candidate, is the best person to indicate who is what.”
Justice Kant further explained the possible way forward in the matter and said,
“Two options remain: A) Clarify our earlier judgment, or B) Ask Justice UU Lalit, as Advisory Board Chairman, to indicate from the empanelled names who is suitable.”
The court then proceeded to pass detailed directions and record several key findings and instructions in its order.
It recorded that based on the recommendations of the selection committee headed by Justice Lalit, and in accordance with the process outlined in the earlier order, 17 Vice-Chancellor appointments had already been approved by the Chancellor and carried out.
The order said,
“Based on the recommendations of the selection committee chaired by Justice Lalit and in compliance with the procedure outlined in our previous order, the appointment of 17 candidates was duly approved by the Chancellor and has already been carried out.”
However, the matter remained pending in relation to the remaining appointments.
The court said,
“For the remaining appointments, the matter was heard on 8 and 15 May 2025, during which original records were received from the Chancellor’s office in sealed covers.”
For seven universities, the Chancellor had preferred candidates ranked third in the list recommended by the Chief Minister.
The Bench noted,
“For seven universities, the Chancellor has found the candidate ranked third in the list recommended by the Chief Minister to be the most suitable.”
The Supreme Court also dealt with the appointment of Professor Dr. Sonali Chakraborty Banerjee as Vice Chancellor of Rabindra Bharati University.
The Chancellor had initially withheld approval, pointing out that she had already been appointed as VC of another university. But it was clarified before the court that she had not taken charge of that position.
Accordingly, the court directed,
“Regarding Rabindra Bharati University, Professor Dr. Sonali Chakraborty was recommended, but the Chancellor withheld approval citing her appointment as VC of another university. It has been clarified that she has not assumed charge there.”
The Bench therefore ordered,
“The Chancellor is directed to approve the appointment of Professor Dr. Sonali Chakraborty Banerjee as Vice Chancellor of Rabindra Bharati University.”
The court also modified its earlier order from 8th July 2024, stating,
“Paragraphs 18 and 21 of the order dated 8 July 2024 are modified. Justice UU Lalit and the members of his selection committee, being the most suitable to resolve this issue, shall independently re-determine the order of preference of candidates.”
Additionally, it gave flexibility to Dr. Sonali Chakraborty in case she had already joined another university.
The court said,
“If Dr. Sonali Chakraborty has already joined West Bengal State University, she may resign and assume charge as Vice Chancellor of Rabindra Bharati University.”
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The Supreme Court also asked Justice Lalit to expedite the process, noting,
“Justice Lalit is requested to complete this exercise at the earliest to facilitate appointments.”
The matter will now come up for hearing again after four weeks.
Case Title: State of West Bengal v Dr Sanat Kumar Ghosh.
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