File picture of West Bengal Governor RN Ravi. Photo: Special arrangement
The Supreme Court on Friday (May 8, 2026) asked West Bengal Governor RN Ravi to appoint vice chancellors of three state universities from names shortlisted by a cum search committee headed by former CJI UU Lalit.
The apex court’s order ended a bitter dispute between the governor, who is also the chancellor, and former chief minister Mamata Banerjee over the appointment of VCs in 36 state-aided universities.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi expressed satisfaction with the development and noted its appreciation for the efforts made by former CJI Lalit, Attorney General R. Venkataramani, acting as Governor, and senior advocate Jaideep Gupta, who represented the state government, in resolving the dispute.
The CJI said after completing the procedural formalities, the three shortlisted persons would be appointed within four weeks as VCs of the remaining three universities – North Bengal University, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University of Technology and Netaji Subhash Open University.
The bench then disposed of the suit filed by the West Bengal government in 2023.
There was a dispute between the Governor and Banerjee over the appointment of VCs in 36 state-aided universities.
In a bid to end the tussle between the two top constitutional functionaries in the state, the apex court had on July 8, 2024 set up a selection committee headed by former CJI Lalit to oversee the appointments.
It has asked the governor’s office to respond to a plea of inaction in giving assent to the West Bengal Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2022, which was passed by the state legislature in June 2022.
The West Bengal Assembly passed a bill in 2022 to replace the Governor with the Chief Minister as the Chancellor of all state-run universities.
The court then issued summons to the chief secretary to the governor and the center to seek their replies.
Published – 09 May 2026 09:50 IST
