Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has expressed support for Governor CV Ananda Bose in the controversy over the appointment of vice-chancellors for state universities. Pradhan stated that the governor has the authority to make these appointments and suggested that the state government should focus on ensuring campus safety and preventing incidents like ragging. This comes after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused Bose of violating norms and threatened an economic blockade on universities. State Education Minister Bratya Basu and former VCs aligned with the ruling Trinamool Congress have also criticized Bose s actions.
The ongoing feud between Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government and Raj Bhavan revolves around the appointment of interim vice-chancellors in state universities.
The UGC Regulations provide that a VC should be appointed by a 'Search Committee' comprising of a representative each of the UGC, the State University and the Governor. But the State amended the said arrangement.