Jadavpur University's acting Vice Chancellor (VC), Bhaskar Gupta, has been relieved of his duties on Friday by Raj Bhavan ahead of the scheduled end of his term.
A formal letter issued by Raj Bhavan stated that, effective immediately, Gupta will no longer hold the position of VC at the university.
Professor Gupta, who was serving as the interim VC, was initially appointed to the role in April last year by Governor CV Anand Bose. At that time, he continued his work as a professor in the department of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering, with the additional responsibility of leading the university.
Gupta's term as Acting Vice Chancellor was set to officially end on March 31, but he was relieved of his duties earlier than expected.
In light of recent developments, a letter was sent to Chancellor and Governor Bose, requesting the appointment of a permanent VC for Jadavpur University. The Jadavpur University Professors’ Association (JUTA) warned that the lack of a permanent VC could lead to a legal impasse at the university. The association’s letter emphasised the urgency of resolving the situation before it escalates further.
The appointment of permanent VC has been a point of contention across the state. Since the Supreme Court’s directive, the Governor has appointed permanent VCs at 19 out of 36 state universities. However, 16 universities, including Jadavpur University, still await the appointment of a permanent head. This delay has caused growing unrest within the academic community, as faculty members and staff await clarity on the future leadership of the university.
The situation at Jadavpur University remains tense, with many in the teaching community closely watching the actions of the government and Raj Bhavan. It is now a matter of when, not if, the permanent VC will be appointed and who will take on this pivotal role in a time of heightened unrest.
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