In the notice, the former vice-chancellors demanded that the Governor should tender a public apology within 15 days or he would face a legal case. They also sought damage of Rs 50 lakh from him for each of them.
The remarks by Pradhan come in the wake of an escalating confrontation between the TMC government and the Raj Bhavan over the appointment of vice-chancellors at eight state universities.
The move also drew severe criticism from the West Bengal government with state education minister Bratya Basu slamming the Governor Bose for acting in a “dictatorial manner”.