Kolkata: A fresh tussle has ensued between Raj Bhavan and the West Bengal government over convocation of Jadavpur University (JU) held on Tuesday (December 24).
Apparently annoyed by the convocation ignoring the Raj Bhavan’s objection, the governor’s office has shot off letters to the JU authorities, saying that sanctity and credibility of the degree conferred at the convocation might be questioned as the event was held against the laid down norms and provisions of the Jadavpur University Act.
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The Raj Bhavan had urged the education department to postpone the convocation ceremony until the appointment of a regular vice-chancellor. Currently, Bhaskar Gupta is the interim vice-chancellor of the university.
West Bengal governor CV Ananda Bose had on Monday wrote to Jadavpur University’s interim vice chancellor Bhaskar Gupta, dubbing its December 24 convocation “illegal”, and directed the varsity authorities to follow all the rules and regulations to secure the future of students. Hence, he did not attend the convocation ceremony.
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“Since the governor happens to be the chancellor of the university, the convocation held in the absence of the chancellor might raise questions on the sanctity of the event. In the communication to the JU authorities, the Raj Bhavan stated that as per Section 8(1) of The Jadavpur University Act 1981, the Governor by virtue of his chair is always nominated as the “Chancellor” of the University, the current actions of the interim vice-chancellor of the university are not in lines with the provisions of the Act.
Officials of the Rajbhavan said that they were asking to defer the event till the appointment of a regular vice-chancellor. However, the state education department overruled the Raj Bhavan’s objections and stuck to the convention of the convocation to be held on the fixed date, that is December 24.
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“There is no merit in the Raj Bhavan’s contention. The convocation of a university like that of JU is a sacrosanct event for the students and faculties of that institution and has been held on December 24 for quite some time,” said state education minister in-charge Bratya Basu.
Basu said that no one shall play with the convocations and heritage of such an institution. He said that due process of law has been observed as far as practicable. “Nothing that benefits the students can be withheld indefinitely,” Basu said.
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The office of the Chancellor, on the other hand, ruled out the state government’s argument that the convocation has to be mandatorily organised on December 24. To buttress its argument, th Raj Bhavan cited the rule saying the degrees (other than honorary degrees) and the distinctions of the university shall be conferred at the annual convocation to be held on 24th December every year or on such date as may be fixed by the executive council, with the approval of the Chancellor.
