The West Bengal government has sent a letter to all universities in the state, asking them to show cause for the legal expenses incurred to defend Governor C V Ananda Bose before the Supreme Court. The governor is the chancellor of the universities.
The December 18 letter – a copy of which is with The Indian Express – from the special secretary of the state education department has sought a detailed account of the costs incurred and a clarification as to whether these costs had the approval of the state finance department. The government has sought a response within five days.
The Supreme Court is hearing a case regarding Governor Bose’s decision to appoint interim vice-chancellors to several state-run universities in West Bengal.
Earlier, in a letter dated October 17, the governor’s special secretary had written to the acting vice-chancellors of the universities saying that according to the instructions of the chancellor, the universities should share the cost of the lawyers in fighting the case in the Supreme Court. The letter also stated that the University of Calcutta has to take charge of financial transactions for coordination between them.
It was alleged that the letter from the Governor’s Secretariat was seeking money for the case from various universities, citing Governor Bose’s instructions.
“The Department of Higher Education got hold of a letter bearing No. 1092-S dated 17/10/2023 issued by the Senior Special Secretary to the Hon’ble Governor, West Bengal wherein it is directed to the Vice-Chancellor (Authorised) of Calcutta University to the effect that legal expenses incurred on account of engagement of all Advocates to defend the Hon’ble Chancellor of the University before the Hon’ble Supreme Court in connection with SLP 17403/2023 (State of West Bengal Vs Dr. Sanat Kumar Ghosh &Ors.) and such other cases may be shared by all the Universities concerned and the Calcutta University being the Coordinating University may make the transactions towards payment of such fees from time to time,” the education department stated in its letter.
“What amount of legal expenses have been incurred and/or paid to different advocates so far in the matter of SLP 17403/2023 (State of West Bengal Vs Dr. Sanat Kumar Ghosh &Ors or such other cases, if any, till date for and on behalf of Hon’ble Chancellor of the University,” the letter further sought to know.
The letter added, “Whether those advocates are empanelled advocates of the Universities; g. Whether engagement of Advocates in the above mentioned case (or in any other cases) have been made by the Hon’ble Chancellor with prior approval of the Senate/Syndicate/Court/Executive Council/Governing Board (as the case may be) of respective Universities; Be it mentioned here that all Universities are State aided Universities and there are established guidelines for using public fund irrespective of the fund whether fund is provided from the State exchequer or raised by the University from the students, donation etc. Your reply must reach this office within the stipulated time period. Further steps would be considered based on the response received from your end. This is issued with the approval of the competent authority of this Department.”
After issuing the letter, state Education Minister Bratya Basu said in a post on X, formerly Twitter, “Whatever it may be, Universities cannot be talked of zamindari tax collection by whipping.”
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