WB VC Appointment: SC Defers Hearing to January 2026 After AG Flags ‘Positive Progress’
The Supreme Court on Wednesday deferred to January 2026 the hearing on a plea concerning the appointment of regular vice-chancellors in state-aided universities in West Bengal, after being informed that “good progress” has been made in resolving the issue.
The Bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi took note of submissions made by Attorney General of India R. Venkataramani, appearing for the office of West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose, that developments in the matter were moving in a positive direction.
“Good progress is being made. Kindly have it in January,” the Attorney General submitted, to which the Chief Justice responded, “All right.”
The Court adjourned the matter at the joint request of the Attorney General and counsel appearing for the West Bengal government, scheduling the next hearing in January next year.
Previously, in October, the Court had reviewed the recommendations of the Lalit Committee, tasked with evaluating candidates for the top academic posts. Justice Kant had directed that the appointments for universities where there is agreement proceed immediately. "Where the learned Chancellor has agreed to the Committee’s recommendations, the State should also align," he said. It had clarified that the remaining five universities with reservations will be examined in-chamber to understand the specific misgivings, avoiding discussion of candidates in open court.
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 December 9, 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.
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.
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