WB Universities VC Appointments: Supreme Court Defers Decision, Orders Parties to Resolve Reservations
The Bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi asked parties to place reasons for objections before Court; next hearing fixed for October 6
SC adjourns Bengal VC appointments case, directs parties to explain objections
The Supreme Court on Friday deferred a matter concerning the appointment of Vice-Chancellors for certain universities in West Bengal, directing the parties to submit the reasons for their reservations before the Court.
The Bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi was informed that the Search-cum-Selection Committee had unanimously recommended candidates for 12 universities.
Senior Advocate Dr. AM Singhvi, representing the state, confirmed that nine appointments could proceed unanimously, while others had objections.
Attorney General R. Venkataramani informed the Court that the Chancellor had, in principle, agreed to certain appointments, but had serious objections regarding four candidates.
Justice Kant noted that stalemates must be resolved and emphasized the need for clarity on objections.
The Court observed that while unanimity should allow appointments to proceed, a piecemeal approach would not be ideal. It suggested that parties provide the reasons for their reservations, including a copy of the Committee’s latest report. The matter has now been adjourned for hearing on October 6.
Notably, on September 1, Senior Advocate Jaideep Gupta had informed the Court that the case was currently listed for September 26 but noted that former Chief Justice U.U. Lalit’s report, submitted in connection with the matter, was already with the Registry and had urged for a shorter date. To this, the Bench had preponed the hearing date.
The Supreme Court has previously directed both sides to work towards a resolution and had also sought the assistance of Justice (Retd.) U.U. Lalit in exploring a framework to settle the issues. The case has wide implications for higher education governance in West Bengal, with the fate of several university appointments hanging in balance amid the continuing standoff between the Raj Bhavan and the State.
It is to be noted that the Supreme Court in January 2025 had granted more time to West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose in order to finalise the appointment process for vice-chancellors in the state's universities.
On 9 December, 2024 the Supreme Court was told that the West Bengal Governor had appointed full-term vice-chancellors for six universities and five more would be cleared soon.
Previously in November 2024, the Apex Court had refused to intervene in appointing vice-chancellors at West Bengal universities, following a report that the committee led by former Justice U.U. Lalit had already submitted its recommendations to the West Bengal Chief Minister.
In July 2024, the Supreme Court had appointed former Chief Justice of India U U Lalit as chairman of the Search-cum-Selection Committees for appointment of Vice Chancellors in all state universities in West Bengal following a "rift" between the TMC government and the Governor, leading to "chaos" in such institutions.
The Court had also nominated eminent educationists, scientists, jurists, subject experts and administrators etc for the purpose of empanelment on the committee. It invoked its powers under Article 142 of the Constitution to do complete justice in this matter and passed the common order for constitution of Search-cum-Selection Committee for all the subject Universities.
Earlier, in March 2023, a Division Bench of the Calcutta High Court had quashed the appointment of Vice Chancellors in 29 state-run universities. It was also claimed that the state government had appointed or reappointed VCs of 24 state universities as well as extended the tenure of vice-chancellors without following the prescribed norms of the University Grants Commission (UGC).
Case Title: State of West Bengal v. Dr. Sanat Kumar Ghosh