Bengal governor CV Ananda Bose opposes Didi's 17 VC picks, gives documents to SC

KOLKATA: West Bengal governor , CV Ananda Bose, submitted to the Supreme Court in a sealed cover his opposition to CM Mamata Banerjee 's recommendations for vice-chancellors of 17 state-run universities , based on the shortlisted panel of the SC-nominated Justice UU Lalit committee.

These universities include Calcutta University and Jadavpur University.

A statement posted on X by Raj Bhavan's media cell read: "HG (Governor) and Chancellor has appointed vice-chancellors in 19 universities. In the case of the remaining 17 universities, by employing due diligence, including background and antecedent review of the candidates and after obtaining reports from credible sources in the field, HG and Chancellor has raised valid reservations in a sealed cover, on the candidates preferred by the chief minister, for consideration in the Hon'ble Supreme Court."

Raj Bhavan also claimed that SC was not aware of this development when it heard the case on April 2.

The statement added: "The bench was to sit only till 1pm and the case was not taken up for hearing till then. The opposite parties mentioned the above matter and sought a particular date."

"On inquiry, chancellor's lawyer informed the hon'ble court that 19 names out of 36 were already cleared. Because the case was taken up out of turn, Ld Attorney General for India could not be present in court, else the 'sealed covers' containing hon'ble chancellor's remarks in case of 17 universities could have been submitted to the hon'ble court," it read.

"Thus, in the absence of submission of the sealed covers containing hon'ble chancellor's remarks, the hon'ble court, after hearing the counsel, inter alia, expressed its desire that HG would be able to clear the remaining 17 within the next two weeks, failing which the court would have to take a call on the matter on the next date of hearing," the statement added.