Removing a Vice-Chancellor
Surely, the Governor of Asom who is also the Chancellor of Gauhati University could have waited for some time more before appointing the new Vice-Chancellor of that institution. For, by announcing the appointment of the new Vice-Chancellor and creating the impression that he would take over before the term of the present Vice-Chancellor expires, the Chancellor has once again pushed the Gauhati University into the midst of another controversy. As it is, Asoms premier institution of higher learning has been passing through rather rough times in recent months and it could have well done without the new tug-of-war between the present Vice-Chancellor and the newly-appointed one. Dr. Gajendranath Talukdar has made clear his intention to stay on in office till November 11 when his five-year term expires, while Dr. Amarjyoti Chaudhury has stated that he will join as soon as the date is communicated to him by the Chancellor. It is somewhat surprising that in the appointment letter sent by the Chancellor to Dr .Chaudhury there is no mention about the date of joining and the latter has now written to Raj Bhavan to find out when he should join.
The Chancellors action and the responses of the present Vice-Chancellor and the new incumbent raise quite a few questions about the entire university system and the structure on which it revolves. The Vice-Chancellor is appointed for a period of five years after a due process as laid down in the University Act and his removal before his term expires is not clearly spelled out. Of course, in exceptional circumstances the University Court or the Executive Council could bring pressure upon him to resign. The Act also gives powers to the Chancellor to institute an enquiry and then recommend action. In this case, there were no clear charges of corruption, favoritism or major violation of university statutes against Dr. Talukdar, although as head of the institution he was certainly responsible for the examination irregularities and the general failure of the administration. Nevertheless, it needs to be kept in mind that a university functions within a particular structure and it wouldnt set a healthy precedent if Vice-Chancellors were made to quit because of pressure mounted by certain student and youth organizations. In this case, the All Assam Students Union had been carrying on an agitation for the resignation of the Vice-Chancellor primarily on charges of inefficiency. The AASU had repeatedly urged upon the Chancellor to remove the Vice-Chancellor and was thereby trying to promote a course of action which would have directly contravened the provisions of the GU Act. The very fact that the AASU has now expressed satisfaction at having achieved its purpose, does not bode well for the overall academic atmosphere of the state, especially if this is accepted as a just course of action by the public in general. There are many instances in the country of Vice-Chancellors having to quit because of student agitations. But in most cases these have seldom been approved by the media or the public. Surely, it wouldnt do the state any good if the fate of the Vice-Chancellors office were to be decided by our student and youth bodies. While it is true that there have been major flaws in the procedure for the selection of Vice-Chancellors and quite often persons lacking in academic excellence or administrative skills have been selected for that august office, yet it is necessary to safeguard the office of the Vice-Chancellor so that the sanctity of the structures on which a university functions can be maintained.
The Chancellors action seems to have given rise to the feeling, justified or otherwise, that he was miffed by Dr. Talukdars refusal to accept his order giving grace marks to unsuccessful MBBS students and somehow wants to humiliate the Vice-Chancellor by forcing him to depart unceremoniously before his term expires. The Chancellor by issuing his diktat on grace marks had shown total disrespect to the concept of autonomy and the entire university structure run by its Acts, Statutes and Ordinances It may be recalled in this connection that the Chief Minister had stood by the Vice-Chancellor and the Executive Council during that controversy and had made it clear that the Chancellor was not empowered to interfere in the examination process of the university, following which the matter came to an end. Whatever his other failures might have been, Dr. Talukdar, with the full support of the Executive Council, had, in the interests of university autonomy and fair play, taken a bold step in rejecting the Governors order. Therefore, whatever Raj Bhavans perceptions might be about the present Vice-Chancellor of Gauhati University , the feeling is bound to be there that the Chancellors action in trying to edge out Dr Talukdar , even if it be at the near-end of his term, has not been entirely bereft of partisan motives. We feel that in the interest of decorum and the sanctity of the Vice-Chancellors office as also of the traditions and rules which govern our universities, there should not be any bitterness during the change-over. The new Vice-Chancellor, Dr Amarjyoti Chaudhury, has an excellent academic record and one expects that Gauhati University will take ever new strides under his leadership. We wish him all success.
Surely, the Governor of Asom who is also the Chancellor of Gauhati University could have waited for some time more before appointing the new Vice-Chancellor of that institution. For, by announcing the appointment of the new Vice-Chancellor and creating the impression that he would take over before the term of the present Vice-Chancellor expires, the Chancellor has once again pushed the Gauhati University into the midst of another controversy. As it is, Asoms premier institution of higher learning has been passing through rather rough times in recent months and it could have well done without the new tug-of-war between the present Vice-Chancellor and the newly-appointed one. Dr. Gajendranath Talukdar has made clear his intention to stay on in office till November 11 when his five-year term expires, while Dr. Amarjyoti Chaudhury has stated that he will join as soon as the date is communicated to him by the Chancellor. It is somewhat surprising that in the appointment letter sent by the Chancellor to Dr .Chaudhury there is no mention about the date of joining and the latter has now written to Raj Bhavan to find out when he should join.
The Chancellors action and the responses of the present Vice-Chancellor and the new incumbent raise quite a few questions about the entire university system and the structure on which it revolves. The Vice-Chancellor is appointed for a period of five years after a due process as laid down in the University Act and his removal before his term expires is not clearly spelled out. Of course, in exceptional circumstances the University Court or the Executive Council could bring pressure upon him to resign. The Act also gives powers to the Chancellor to institute an enquiry and then recommend action. In this case, there were no clear charges of corruption, favoritism or major violation of university statutes against Dr. Talukdar, although as head of the institution he was certainly responsible for the examination irregularities and the general failure of the administration. Nevertheless, it needs to be kept in mind that a university functions within a particular structure and it wouldnt set a healthy precedent if Vice-Chancellors were made to quit because of pressure mounted by certain student and youth organizations. In this case, the All Assam Students Union had been carrying on an agitation for the resignation of the Vice-Chancellor primarily on charges of inefficiency. The AASU had repeatedly urged upon the Chancellor to remove the Vice-Chancellor and was thereby trying to promote a course of action which would have directly contravened the provisions of the GU Act. The very fact that the AASU has now expressed satisfaction at having achieved its purpose, does not bode well for the overall academic atmosphere of the state, especially if this is accepted as a just course of action by the public in general. There are many instances in the country of Vice-Chancellors having to quit because of student agitations. But in most cases these have seldom been approved by the media or the public. Surely, it wouldnt do the state any good if the fate of the Vice-Chancellors office were to be decided by our student and youth bodies. While it is true that there have been major flaws in the procedure for the selection of Vice-Chancellors and quite often persons lacking in academic excellence or administrative skills have been selected for that august office, yet it is necessary to safeguard the office of the Vice-Chancellor so that the sanctity of the structures on which a university functions can be maintained.
The Chancellors action seems to have given rise to the feeling, justified or otherwise, that he was miffed by Dr. Talukdars refusal to accept his order giving grace marks to unsuccessful MBBS students and somehow wants to humiliate the Vice-Chancellor by forcing him to depart unceremoniously before his term expires. The Chancellor by issuing his diktat on grace marks had shown total disrespect to the concept of autonomy and the entire university structure run by its Acts, Statutes and Ordinances It may be recalled in this connection that the Chief Minister had stood by the Vice-Chancellor and the Executive Council during that controversy and had made it clear that the Chancellor was not empowered to interfere in the examination process of the university, following which the matter came to an end. Whatever his other failures might have been, Dr. Talukdar, with the full support of the Executive Council, had, in the interests of university autonomy and fair play, taken a bold step in rejecting the Governors order. Therefore, whatever Raj Bhavans perceptions might be about the present Vice-Chancellor of Gauhati University , the feeling is bound to be there that the Chancellors action in trying to edge out Dr Talukdar , even if it be at the near-end of his term, has not been entirely bereft of partisan motives. We feel that in the interest of decorum and the sanctity of the Vice-Chancellors office as also of the traditions and rules which govern our universities, there should not be any bitterness during the change-over. The new Vice-Chancellor, Dr Amarjyoti Chaudhury, has an excellent academic record and one expects that Gauhati University will take ever new strides under his leadership. We wish him all success.
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