BackLAW
Supreme Court asks West Bengal Governor to appoint VCs to three state-aided universities
The Supreme Court directed the West Bengal Governor to appoint vice chancellors for three state-aided universities from a shortlist prepared by a Lalit-led committee, effectively closing a long-running dispute over VC appointments. The ruling ends a broader clash between the governor and the Chief Minister over governance of multiple universities and sets a four-week timeline for appointments after procedural formalities.
Why It Matters
This decision resolves a protracted governance impasse over university appointments in West Bengal and demonstrates a pathway for appointing VCs via a constitutionally designated committee, potentially impacting 36 state-aided universities in the state.
Timeline
6 Events
May 9, 2026: Article reporting the development published
May 9, 2026
The article reporting the Supreme Court order was published.
May 8, 2026: Supreme Court directs governor to appoint VCs from shortlisted names
May 8, 2026
A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi asked West Bengal Governor R. N. Ravi to appoint vice chancellors to three state-aided universities from the names shortlisted by the Lalit-led committee. The three universities are North Bengal University, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University of Technology, and Netaji Subhash Open University, and the appointed VCs are to be named within four weeks after procedural formalities.
July 8, 2024: Supreme Court forms search-cum-selection committee for VC appointments
July 8, 2024
The Supreme Court constituted a search-cum-selection committee headed by former Chief Justice U. U. Lalit to oversee VC appointments in 36 state-aided universities and sought responses regarding inaction on assent to the 2022 amendment.
2023: West Bengal government files plea in Supreme Court
2023
The West Bengal government filed a plea in 2023 in the Supreme Court related to the appointment of vice chancellors in 36 state-aided universities.
June 2022: West Bengal Assembly passes WB Universities (Amendment) Bill 2022
June 2022
The West Bengal assembly passed a bill to replace the governor with the chief minister as the chancellor of all state-run universities.
2022: Court notices seek replies from governor’s office and Centre
2022
The Supreme Court issued a notice to the principal secretary to the governor and the Centre seeking their replies regarding the amendment and related VC-appointment dispute.