NBU VC to take addl charge as 1st Hill varsity VC: BGPM leader Anit Thapa had taken up matter with CM

(ITI Mungpoo- The building to run the DHU for the time being) (Photo courtesy Biren Thapa -Facebook)

SNS, DARJEELING, 3 NOVEMBER 21 : The West Bengal Higher Education Department has finally appointed the Vice Chancellor (VC) for the Darjeeling Hill University (DHU) for an interim period.

According to a notification, "the competent authority in the State Government has decided to give the responsibility of the First Vice Chancellor of the DHU to Dr Subires Bhattacharya, the VC of NBU (North Bengal University) with immediate effect and in addition to his normal duties as the VC of NBU, till the First VC of DHU joins, or until further order, which ever is earlier."

The Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM), meanwhile, claimed that it was through their efforts that the hill university would start soon.

In a statement, BGPM president Anit Thapa referred to the instance when he had taken up the matter with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in a meeting she held in Kurseong on 26 October this year.

"I had been called in the meeting held by the CM and one of the demands I made was the functioning of the DHU as soon as possible. Even after the name of the VC had been announced, no appointment had yet been made," Mr Thapa said.

The foundation stone for the Greenfield University (GU), the name of which was later changed to DHU, was laid by the CM herself from Chowrasta here on 5 September 2018.

"Through the notification that was issued today, the state government has given the order to start classes at the DHU. It states that until the appointment of a VC, the NBU VC will take the post. I am grateful to the state government for this that under my efforts such a gift was given on Diwali to the people of the Hills. Now, our students do not have to leave theHills for higher studies," said Mr Thapa.

The notification also states that it was due to some administrative reasons that the first VC of the University had not yet been appointed, while at the same time the academic and administrative functions of other new state-aided universities in West Bengal had already started.

It also maintains that for academic interest of the people of the Darjeeling hill areas, the academic and administrative functions of die University requires to be started on an urgent basis and this step was being taken in view of starting the academic and administrative functions of DHU with immediate effect.