West Bengal: HC seeks report from govt on ordinance for V-C search panel

According to the ordinance, the five-member search committee will have one representative each nominated by the chief minister, the state Education Department, the state Higher Education Council, the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the Governor, who by virtue of the post is also the Chancellor of all state universities.

West Bengal, Calcutta HC, state govt report on ordinance, V-C search panel, search committee for VC appointments, INDIAN EXPRESS, INDIAN EXPRESS NEWS

n the second week of May this year, the state government brought The West Bengal University Laws (Amendment) Ordinance 2023 to effect changes made in the formation of the search committee for the appointment of vice-chancellors in the state universities. (Express Photo)

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The Calcutta High Court on Monday sought a report from the West Bengal government over its recent ordinance that brought about changes in the formation of the search committee for appointments of vice-chancellors (V-Cs) in the state-run universities.

The Division Bench of Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam and Justice Ajay Kumar Gupta sought the report after hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) challenging the recent ordinance. Lawyer Sushmita Saha Dutta, who filed the PIL, has challenged the state government’s decision to omit the provision of a representative of the state university concerned in the search committee. Dutta has also questioned why three of the five members of the search committee should be representatives of the state government.

On Monday, the petitioner argued that by numerical supremacy, the state government would be able to push their candidates as vice-chancellors instead of doing it on the basis of merit. Dutta also argued that even the Governor, as the chancellor of the state universities, will virtually have no say in the matter.

On behalf of the West Bengal government, Advocate General SN Mukhopadhyay argued that the appointment of vice-chancellors is made on the basis of UGC norms, irrespective of who are the representatives in the search committees. After hearing both parties, the Division Bench asked the state government to submit a report on the matter to the court and also directed the state government to inform the petitioner if any further step is taken as regards to the search committee.
The matter will come up for hearing again on July 31.

In the second week of May this year, the state government brought The West Bengal University Laws (Amendment) Ordinance 2023 to effect changes made in the formation of the search committee for the appointment of vice-chancellors in the state universities.

According to the ordinance, the five-member search committee will have one representative each nominated by the chief minister, the state Education Department, the state Higher Education Council, the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the Governor, who by virtue of the post is also the Chancellor of all state universities.