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SC settles row over vcs for 3 Bengal varsities
The Supreme Court approved two vice chancellors from a court-appointed panel headed by former Chief Justice UU Lalit for North Bengal University and Netaji Subhas Open University, ending a 30-month dispute involving 36 universities in West Bengal. The third name from the panel was not disclosed. The court directed the state government to forward the names to the chancellor for approval and to ensure appointments are completed within four weeks.
Why It Matters
The ruling ends a prolonged clash between the state government and the Governor that had hampered university functioning, ensuring regular VCs across West Bengal’s universities.
Timeline
6 Events
May 8, 2026: Court directs appointments to be forwarded and completed within four weeks
May 8, 2026
The court directed the state government to forward the names to the chancellor for approval and to ensure the appointment is carried out within four weeks.
May 8, 2026: SC approves VCs for three Bengal varsities (two named; third undisclosed)
May 8, 2026
The Supreme Court approved Dwaipayan Bharadwaj for North Bengal University and Rajan Chakrabarti for Netaji Subhas Open University from the panel; the third name was not disclosed.
2025: Panel recommendations include unanimous for one university; majority rule used for two others
2025
The five-member panel's recommendation for one university was unanimous, while the top court used a majority rule to select VCs for the remaining two universities.
2025: Court asks panel to shortlist names; committee's report opened in court
2025
Following the Lalit committee's work, the court asked the search-cum-selection panel to shortlist candidates for VCs; the panel's report was opened in court.
July 2024: Supreme Court constitutes Justice Lalit committee
July 2024
The Supreme Court constituted the Justice Lalit committee to end the impasse over VC appointments in West Bengal's 36 universities.
2023: Petition sparks VC row
2023
The row over appointment of vice chancellors began when the state government filed a petition challenging the governor's action to sit over the names recommended by the state.