Admin, Infrastructure, Operational Woes Mount as JU Completes Month 8 Without a Permanent V-C
Kolkata: For over seven months now, Jadavpur University, one of the premier educational institutions in India, has been in a state of flux due to the absence of a permanent vice-chancellor.
The last permanent vice-chancellor, Suranjan Das, retired after his nine-year stint on May 31, 2023. West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose, the chancellor of state universities, did not extend his tenure. Since then, the university has had two officiating V-Cs, both appointed and then dismissed by the Governor.
Officiating V-C Buddhadeb Sau was appointed by Raj Bhavan on August 17 last year. However, Governor Bose removed him on disciplinary grounds on the eve of the university's annual convocation on December 23 last year. The state education department, at perpetual loggerheads with the governor, reinstated Sau the following day, but the convocation took place without the Chancellor – Governor Bose. Since then, Sau has been on leave, leading to a suspension of critical academic and administrative matters at the institution.
The following was posted on X by Bengal education minister Bratya Basu.
— Bratya Basu (@basu_bratya) December 23, 2023
Among problems created in the absence of a permanent V-C is that the working committee and executive council could not meet for months. Signing off on grants and approvals for crucial research work are also stalled. Recently, the university's teachers' association held a sit-in demonstration as part of the 'Save JU' campaign.
“Financial transactions are on hold without the approval of the vice-chancellor, putting payments to temporary staff in jeopardy. The budget of the university could not be sent to the state government this time. The government did not allow a council meeting. As a result, there will be more serious problems in the future. In the face of this impasse, one section of officials are illegally giving work orders to their preferred organisations. These irregularities will continue until a permanent vice-chancellor takes charge,” alleged Partha Pratim Biswas, general secretary of the Jadavpur University Teachers' Association (JUTA).
Governor Bose's controversial decision to appoint interim V-Cs in 31 state universities, including Jadavpur and Calcutta University, without consulting the higher education department, has triggered a seemingly unending conflict between the two and left these universities without permanent V-Cs. The state has challenged this move in the Supreme Court, resulting in a further delay in the appointment of permanent V-Cs.
Meanwhile, state-aided universities in West Bengal are under scrutiny for using their funds to defend Governor Bose in the legal battle with the state government over V-C appointments. According to a report by The Telegraph, Calcutta University and Jadavpur University have reportedly spent over Rs 10 lakh and Rs 60,000 respectively on legal matters, as confirmed by university officials.
The revelation has prompted the higher education department to set up a committee to investigate the "justification of legal expenditure" by these institutions.
“We want a search committee to be formed and a renowned academician to be appointed as V-C. The future of students is in question due to the ongoing conflict between the state and the governor. The governor has termed the convocation as illegal. Now, if he cancels the certificates signed by the last interim V-C Buddhadeb Sau, we will be in trouble. The state government is strangely maintaining silence on the impasse,” said Afreen, a student of the University.
Echoing Afreen’s concern, Anustup Chakraborty, a PhD student, said several other services were held up. “The absence of a permanent V-C is causing administrative problems for researchers and students. The allocation of research funds is stuck. The hostels are not being repaired. The infrastructure is crumbling.”
It is no secret that the university is facing severe financial distress. It has only a third of the funds it needs from the state. Thus maintaining infrastructure, providing adequate resources, and even basic functionality is hanging by a thread.
The suspension of student elections in recent years has also posed operational challenges for the campus anti-ragging cell, which comprises the V-C and elected student representatives.
Last August, a student’s unnatural death in the university hostel, allegedly due to ragging, had sent shockwaves across the state. Twelve current and former students of the university are currently in judicial custody in the charge of abetment to suicide of a minor.
“After all the fuss about ragging, which damaged the reputation of the university, what will happen to the safety of the students? Can only CCTV solve the problem if there is one to lead the university?” asked Rupam Basu, a student of the university.
Translated from the Bengali original by Aparna Bhattacharya.
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