The executive council of Gour Banga University in Malda has urged the university’s registrar “not to seal the chamber of the vice-chancellor”, as ordered by the governor last Friday.
The council, the highest decision-making body of the university, has also asked professor Rajat Kishore Dey, who was removed as officiating VC by the governor on March 31, to continue as officiating VC, in keeping with an April 1 directive from the higher education department.
The office of the governor, who is also chancellor of the university, wrote to registrar Biswajit Das on April 5 that he was being directed to seal the VC’s chamber.
Governor C.V. Ananda Bose had removed Dey as officiating VC within 24 hours of the conclusion of a convention and an exhibition of the West Bengal College and University Professors’ Association (WBCUPA) on its premises on March 30.
The association is loyal to the Trinamul Congress.
The executive council of the university met on Tuesday and resolved: “Considering the gravity of the situation and to resolve the impending stalemate and foremost, to safeguard the interest of the students in particular, the Executive Council urges upon the registrar not to seal the chamber of the vice-chancellor of Gour Banga University.”
“Further, the Executive Council urges Prof. Rajat Kishore Dey to continue to discharge the function of vice-chancellor as per the letter of the higher education department….dated-01.04.2024.”
Education minister Bratya Basu congratulated the council.
Within hours of the resolution, he wrote on his X handle: “I congratulate the Executive Council of Gour Banga University for keeping faith on Hon’ble Chief Minister and rejecting the tyranny of the Hon’ble Chancellor in taking the historic decision to continue with Prof. Rajat Kishore Dey as the VC of the University, whom the Hon’ble Chancellor unjustly removed.”
This newspaper could not contact Bose as his phone was switched off. His office did not respond to an email.
