SC Seeks Names for Search Committee to Appoint Vice-Chancellors in West Bengal Universities

The Supreme Court has sought names of distinguished personalities including scientists, technocrats, administrators, educationists, and jurists, to establish a search committee responsible for shortlisting and appointing vice-chancellors in 13 state-run universities in West Bengal.

Acknowledging the ongoing dispute between the state government and the West Bengal governor’s office on this matter, the top court decided on September 15 that it would establish a search committee for the selection of vice-chancellors. The court had asked the governor, the state government, and the University Grants Commission (UGC) to independently suggest three to five names for each university for the committee’s consideration.

A bench of justices Surya Kant and Dipankar Datta took up the matter and noted that “the parties have agreed to submit a tabulated chart giving details of the Universities, the description of the subjects/disciplines which are being taught, the existing provisions for appointment of members in the Search Committee and/or the new provisions which are proposed in the Bill awaiting assent of the Governor.” The bench further stated, “The counsel representing the intervenors etc. shall be at liberty to suggest the names of renowned scientists, technocrats, administrators, educationists, jurists, or any other eminent personality for the purpose of nomination to the Search Committee.”

The bench instructed the involved parties to complete the submission of details and scheduled the state government’s plea for a hearing on October 6.

The Supreme Court was addressing the West Bengal government’s appeal against the June 28 order of the Calcutta High Court, which affirmed the legality of the governor’s orders appointing interim vice-chancellors in 11 state-run universities in his capacity as the ex-officio chancellor of these institutions.

A contentious conflict between the Mamata Banerjee government and Governor C V Ananda Bose has emerged concerning the operation of the state’s universities.

The bench noted that the state government’s Bill regarding the appointment of vice-chancellors was awaiting the governor’s approval, and thus, the court would establish a search committee to select vice-chancellors.

“The court has directed the office of the governor, the state government, and the University Grants Commission to give three to five names for consideration of the bench for the search committee by September 25,” stated advocate Subhasish Bhowmick, who represented the governor’s office.

Previously, the high court had determined that the chancellor possessed the authority to appoint vice-chancellors, as stipulated in relevant enactments.

Sanat Kumar Ghosh, a petitioner who approached the high court, and the West Bengal government contended that the appointments of vice-chancellors to state-run universities were illegal because the higher education department was not consulted by Governor Bose before making these appointments.

The petitioner asserted that despite the proposal presented by the higher education minister, the chancellor made a series of vice-chancellor appointments without consulting him.

The high court asserted that when the ultimate decision rested with the governor, as the appointing authority of the vice-chancellors, the method and manner of consultation should be left to his discretion, and the consultee could not dictate the chancellor’s terms regarding the mode or methodology to be adopted.

Among the universities where interim vice-chancellors were appointed on June 1 are the University of Calcutta, University of Kalyani, and Jadavpur University.