DHANKHAR REACTS TO UNIVERSITY CHANCELLORS, VCS SKIPPING MEETING

On Friday, West Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu said the government was considering to nominate Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee as Chancellor of all State universities. Basu, as the reason, cited differences with Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar, who is currently the acting Chancellor.

Earlier, on Friday, Dhankhar expressed anguish at chancellors and vice-chancellors of private universities in the state for not attending a meeting called by him at the Raj Bhavan here. He had earlier invited them to a meeting on December 20 and later rescheduled it on Thursday after officials of the private universities had expressed their inability to attend it, citing the Coronavirus situation.

“Education scenario @MamataOfficial worrisome as no Chancellor & VC of Pvt Univ turned up for meeting with Governor-Visitor. Shocking unionism,” Dhankhar said on Twitter, along with a videographed post.

“It is most unfortunate that chancellors and vice-chancellors of private universities, 11 in number, have not turned up for a meeting with the visitor who is also the governor of the state,” Dhankhar said in a video.

A similar situation was faced in January, 2020 when vice-chancellors of state universities were invited, he said.

“These developments are alarming and indicate rule of the ruler and not of law. Such a scenario cannot be countenanced,” Dhankar said in the video.

In the post, Governor further said that the state government is making appointments of vice-chancellors ignoring the chancellor, and owing to that, he is being forced to take a strong view of such developments.

“I direct all these appointments be revisited. UGC needs to engage into serious probe about private universities as I find they are in breach of several regulations, particularly qua the visitor,” Dhankhar said in the video.

“It is most unfortunate that chancellors and vice-chancellors of private universities, 11 in number, have not turned up for a meeting with the visitor who is also the governor of the state,” Dhankhar said in a video posted on Twitter. A similar situation was faced in January, 2020 when vice-chancellors of state universities were invited, he said.