CONVOCATION CONTROVERSY AT JADAVPUR UNIVERSITY

JADAVPUR UNIVERSITY: GOVERNOR CONTEMPLATING LEGAL ACTION AS EVENT HELD WITHOUT HIS CONSENT

The controversial convocation ceremony of Jadavpur University, an iconic educational institution in the
state, was reportedly done without the consent of the Governor CV Ananda Bose on December 24. Now
the governor who is the chancellor of all state universities in Kolkata is contemplating moving court
against this as protest. Yesterday the governor’s office sought clarification on the matter.

It questioned the legal grounds on which the convocation ceremony was held last Sunday. The main query was how
Buddhadeb Sau could take decisions regarding the organising of the convocation including budget
decisions when he has been removed from the chair of the interim vice-chancellor.

Last Sunday, Sau attended the convocation ceremony as a guest only, and in his place, the event was
presided over and anchored by Amitava Dutta, the pro-Vice Chancellor of Jadavpur University. He was
assisted by the University’s registrar, Snehomonju Basu. The event did not have any representation from
the UGC (University Grants Commission).

JADAVPUR UNIVERSITY: LEGAL ACTION MAY BE SOUGHT REGARDING SAU’S SIGNATURE ON CERTIFICATES DISTRIBUTED

Insiders at the governor’s office have stated that legal action is likely to be sought regarding how the
certificates distributed at this year’s convocation had Sau’s signature since he had already been
removed from the chair of the interim vice-chancellor.

This year’s convocation ceremony was shrouded in considerable confusion. Last Saturday, Sau was
removed from the position of interim Vice Chancellor, barely 12 hours before the convocation ceremony
was scheduled to be held on Sunday morning.

He was removed by the governor who exercised his parallel position as Chancellor of state universities. The State education department, however, reinstated Sau in his former position to ensure that the event was conducted smoothly. At the event, the governor was absent while Sau marked his presence only as a guest, presumably taking legal caution.