The Calcutta High Court has dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging the appointment of interim vice chancellors by the West Bengal Governor for 11 state universities. The PIL argued that the appointments were made without the concurrence of the state education department. However, the court deemed the appointments to be valid and stated that it is the responsibility of the state government to provide salaries and other financial entitlements to the vice chancellors.
The PIL was filed on June 5 by a retired college teacher, Santa Kumar Ghosh, who requested that the Governor House and the West Bengal government be made parties in the petition. The division bench, led by Chief Justice T.S. Sivagnanam, dismissed the PIL after a hearing on Wednesday. Ten out of the 11 newly appointed interim vice chancellors have accepted the appointment offer from the Governor House.
The division bench also observed that the decision of the state government to order a stop-payment of salaries, allowances, and other financial entitlements to the vice chancellors on June 13 has drawn strong criticism from the academic circles of the state. This decision led to a cold war between the Governor House and the state secretariat in West Bengal regarding the recruitment of these interim vice chancellors. The state education minister, Bratya Basu, appealed to the newly appointed vice chancellors not to accept the appointment offer, but ten of them decided to take an oath of commitment from the Governor, pledging to prioritize student and academic-centric actions while avoiding political and communal involvement.
The dismissal of the PIL by the Calcutta High Court brings an end to the legal challenge against the appointment of interim vice chancellors for the 11 state universities. With the court affirming the validity of these appointments, it remains to be seen how the state government will address the issue of salaries and financial entitlements for the vice chancellors. The decision to halt their payments has already received significant backlash from the academic community in West Bengal.
This development highlights the ongoing power struggle between the Governor House and the state government in West Bengal. The appointment of vice chancellors for state universities has become a contentious issue, with differing opinions on the selection process and the extent of the Governor’s authority. While the court’s decision has provided some clarity, it is evident that further discussions and resolutions may be necessary to address the concerns raised by the PIL and the academic community.
In conclusion, the Calcutta High Court has dismissed a PIL challenging the appointment of interim vice chancellors for 11 state universities in West Bengal. The court deemed these appointments to be valid, but the issue of salaries and other financial entitlements for the vice chancellors remains unresolved. The decision of the state government to stop their payments has resulted in criticism and a cold war between the Governor House and the state secretariat. The dismissal of the PIL brings an end to the legal challenge but highlights the ongoing power struggle between the Governor House and the state government.
