North Bengal University flashpoint of governor C.V. Ananda Bose-government fight

 Government inducts Omprakash Mishra into varsity’s executive council

CV Ananda Bose

Binita Paul, TT, Siliguri, 19.07.23 : The state government has inducted former North Bengal University vice-chancellor Omprakash Mishra into the varsity’s executive council (EC) in the latest episode of the continuing showdown between Nabanna and Raj Bhavan.

Governor C.V. Ananda Bose, who is also the chancellor of state universities, had sought a probe against Mishra for alleged irregularities during his tenure as the VC.

The chairman of the West Bengal State Council of Higher Education on Monday appointed Mishra as his representative at the EC of the NBU. On the same day, the governor posted Rathin Bandopadhyay, a faculty member of the law department of the NBU, as the new VC reportedly without consulting the state administration.

Bandopadhyay is the third VC to be appointed at the NBU in two months.

The tenure of Mishra, whom Bose had appointed as the interim VC after holding consultations with the government, ended on May 19. Bose nominated Sanchari Mukherjee, a professor of economics at the NBU, as the new VC on May 21. She took charge on May 22 and was also asked by Raj Bhavan to conduct a probe into allegations of certain irregularities levelled against Mishra while he was in the post.

The varsity authorities were caught by surprise when Bose removed Mukherjee and appointed Bandopadhyay in her place.

The appointment of Bandopadhyay will come into effect from the date on which his joining report would be accepted by the appointing authority, said an order issued by Bose.

After Mishra had been relieved of the post, he said he hadn’t received any communication regarding the investigation. Mishra is a senior faculty member at Jadavpur University.

Mishra, along with other academics in Bengal, had expressed anguish over the appointment of VCs by the governor.

On Tuesday, Mishra’s lawyer sent a notice to the governor seeking an unconditional apology for his statement that he had sought a probe against the former VC for alleged irregularities. The lawyer said the governor’s remark had damaged his client’s reputation.

Mishra said it would be his pleasure to work at the NBU.“I have initiated certain activities at the varsity and will be happy to oversee them. I will be present at the next EC meeting. I want to make sure that students are getting all facilities and proper academic support,” he said.

Sources at the NBU have said frequent changes in the VC’s post are affecting administrative works. Certain technical glitches have cropped up because of the changes made by the Governor.

“Omprakash Mishra had transferred a sub-assistant engineer to the Jalpaiguri campus of the NBU but SanchariMukherjee, the next VC, called him back to the main campus after an EC meeting. Even before the resolution was signed, she was removed from the post. Now, the person is in a fix as to whether he should work,” said a source.

Mishra, during his tenure, had revised the salaries of casual workers but the next VC did not implement it. “This has led to confusion,” the source added.