Jadavpur University VC unclear about post-retirement role

Kolkata: Bhaskar Gupta, the interim vice-chancellor of Jadavpur University, has informed the state higher education department that he will retire on March 31. Gupta is also a professor in the electronics and telecommunication engineering department. He has expressed concerns about the impact of his retirement on his role as interim VC. Gupta stated, "I wrote to Bikash Bhavan, telling them I would retire as an electronics and telecommunication professor on March 31. As my professorship will end, how far will it be valid to continue as the interim VC?" He mentioned that he cannot directly communicate with Governor Chancellor C.V. Ananda Bose, as all messages must go through Bikash Bhavan. Gupta was appointed as JU's interim VC on April 22, 2024. This followed the retirement of former VC Suranjan Das in 2023. Since then, Jadavpur University has not yet appointed a permanent vice-chancellor, and currently, only 19 of the 36 state universities have permanent VCs. Teachers and faculty members are worried about a possible "deadlock" after Gupta's retirement. Partha Pratim Ray, the general secretary of the Jadavpur University Teachers' Association, criticized the situation, saying, "It is an attempt from all sides to destroy the university." He highlighted the pending appointments of several key positions, including the registrar and finance officer, as a major concern.