West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose makes surprise visit to Calcutta University

West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose appeared in a new avatar on Monday making surprise visit to Calcutta University twice today in the morning and afternoon, amid a new episode of confrontation between Governor and the West Bengal government over his recent direction to all state universities to send reports to a committee formed by Raj Bhawan every week on the overall functioning of the universities, including financial issues and recruitment matters. The state government already sought legal help on the issue.

The Governor, who is Chancellor of all the state Universities, reached Calcutta University on the day the university discussed NEP related topics with Principals of all the colleges.

"The Hon'ble governor and the Chancellor came here to see how the education system functions and research functions. He met the professors, students and non-teaching staffers as well. He discussed the NEP policies," VC Asis Kumar Chattopadhyay said.


“The governor tried to explain to us about the NEP policy and its significance and emphasized on overall development of the country instead of looking towards western countries,” Principal of the college present at the meeting said. Meanwhile, AIDSO, a student’s union, gave the go back slogan to the Governor.

A high-level three-member committee was formed by Bose last week and Vice-Chancellors of all the state universities have been directed to send reports to the committee every week on the overall functioning of the universities, including financial issues, recruitment and other things, people in the know said.

The development came as a shocker to even the State Education department, thus opening up a new chapter of tussle between Governor Bose and the West Bengal government. A letter was sent by the Governor's Secretariat last week, Raj Bhawan sources told ET and All state-run universities in West Bengal have been asked to submit a weekly activity report to be submitted by email and any decision which has financial implications may be submitted for prior approval of the chancellor.

“The state Education ministry is seeking legal help on the issue as the state government was not kept in loop while the letter was sent to the VCs,” Minister in-charge Higher Education & School Education department Bratya Basu had said