Eight state universities in West Bengal will get permanent Vice-Chancellors, ending the long wait.

West Bengal Universities VCs: After two years of controversy over the appointment of permanent Vice-Chancellors, an agreement has finally been reached between the West Bengal government and the Governor.

In a major initiative by the West Bengal Higher Education Department, the path has now been cleared for the appointment of permanent Vice-Chancellors in eight universities across the state. These universities had been functioning without regular Vice-Chancellors for a long time, and interim Vice-Chancellors were currently discharging their duties. On Monday, a senior department official stated that the Supreme Court cleared the way for the agreement between the state government and Governor C.V. Ananda Bose.

According to reports, for the past two years, there has been a conflict between the state government and the Raj Bhavan over the appointment of Vice-Chancellors in several universities across the state. The government, led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, had expressed displeasure over the Governor's appointment of interim Vice-Chancellors without consulting the state government. The matter reached the Supreme Court, and after a settlement was finally reached between the two parties, the process for permanent appointments can now begin.

Appointment Process Under Supreme Court Oversight

According to media reports, a special bench of the Supreme Court is monitoring the entire matter. This process is based on the recommendations of a committee headed by former Chief Justice U.U. Lalit. Currently, the appointment of permanent Vice Chancellors for 13 universities is pending in court, of which the path has now been cleared for eight universities.

Which Universities Will Get New Vice Chancellors?

The name of renowned academician Ashutosh Ghosh has been put forward for Calcutta University. Former Registrar and Pro-VC Chiranjib Bhattacharya is likely to be appointed Vice Chancellor at Jadavpur University. Former Vice Chancellor Om Prakash Mishra may be reappointed at North Bengal University, while Arnab Sen is proposed for Raiganj University.

Ashish Bhattacharya is likely to take charge of Gour Banga University, while Uday Bandyopadhyay has been suggested for Kazi Nazrul University. Chandradeepa Ghosh has been agreed upon for Sadhu Ramchandra Murmu University, and Abu Talib for Visva Bangla University.

Formal appointments to be made soon

According to an official from the state's Higher Education Department, the state government will begin the formal appointment process as soon as the Raj Bhavan issues a notification of the names, taking into account the legal process and the Supreme Court's directives.

Five universities still under consideration

An official stated that consensus has not yet been reached on the names of the vice-chancellors of five other state universities. The hearing for these universities will proceed in the Supreme Court, after which the appointment process will begin there as well.