The newly appointed Vice-Chancellors (VCs) of six state universities in West Bengal by Governor C. V. Ananda Bose signify a significant change in the management of higher education in the state and the long-running stalemate on the appointment of the important leadership roles.
As new Vice-Chancellors, the following are:
- Prof. Abu Taleb Khan in Biswa Bangla Biswavidyalaya.
- Prof Chandradipa Ghosh in Sadhu Ramchand Murmu University, Jhargram.
- University of Gour Banga, Prof Ashis Bhattacharjee.
- University of Calcutta called Prof Ashutosh Ghosh.
- Prof Uday Bandyopadhyay in Kazi Nazrul University.
- Jadavpur University, Prof Chiranjib Bhattacharjee.
The entire appointments shall be immediate and shall last four years or till the incumbent attains the age of seventy, whichever occurs first.
The appointments are made based on a Supreme Court order on October 6, 2025, according to which the West Bengal government and the Governor are free to proceed with the appointments, as both sides are willing to agree on the nominees. This resolution by the Supreme Court concluded months of stalemate and wordplay between the Raj Bhavan and the state education department on VC appointments since the expiry of their previous terms.
West Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu accepted the appointments saying that all the newly appointed VCs were the first choice of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Basu congratulated and termed it as a milestone in the academic future of the state.
Under these appointments, some of the biggest universities in Bengal, such as Calcutta University and Jadavpur University, which have been leaderless over the years now have a stable leadership. This step is likely to introduce administrative sanity, facilitate the normal academic operations including convocations and pave the way to improved governance in West Bengal higher education.
Such an abrupt move by the Governor is perceived to be a milestone in the settlement of long pending problems of university administration in West Bengal.
