The reappointment of Sonali Chakravarti Banerjee as the Calcutta University Vice-Chancellor, which was challenged because it had been done without the approval of the Chancellor — the West Bengal Governor — has been set aside by the Calcutta High Court.
The term of Prof. Chakravarti Banerjee, who was appointed Vice-Chancellor of the university in August 2017, ended in August 2021, when she was again reappointed to the post for another four years. The then Governor, Jagdeep Dhankhar, had refused to sign the file, saying her reappointment should be recommended, as per norms, by a selection committee.
Mr. Dhankhar, it is learned, had returned the file thrice, following which the State Government issued a notification that dispensed with the need for the Chancellor’s approval in appointment, reappointment and extension of service of Vice-Chancellors. It invoked Section 60 of the Calcutta University Act, which provides for “removal of difficulties” arising in giving effect to the provisions of the Act and empowers the State Government to pass necessary order for the purpose of removing the difficulties.
