West Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu has shown disagreement in appointing interim vice-chancellors in state universities, as such "ad hoc steps" by Raj Bhavan have resulted in a "chaotic situation in varsities".
The minister's comment comes three days after West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose appointed Mathematics professor Buddhadeb Sau as the officiating Vice-Chancellor of Jadavpur University, reported PTI.
On Monday, August 21, the minister said that the files related to the appointment of VCs in state-run or state-aided universities are lying "unattended" in the governor's office.
"The recommendations of search committees formed by the higher education department are not being considered. The files related to VCs' appointments are left unattended. A game of passing the ball goes on. The action of Raj Bhavan has triggered a chaotic situation in varsities," PTI quoted him saying.
Jadavpur University has been in the eye of a storm of criticism over the death of the first-year undergraduate (UG) student, Swapnadeep Kundu, after allegedly being ragged and sexually harassed.
The 17-year-old undergraduate student died after falling from a second-floor balcony of the main boys' hostel on August 9. His family alleged that he was a victim of ragging and sexual harassment.
Thirteen people, including former and current students of JU, were arrested in connection with the death of the student.
