Dhankhar on same page with JU Court members over conferment of honoris causa
Kolkata: Governor and Chancellor of Jadavpur University Jagdeep Dhankhar was on the same page with the varsity Court members when it came to the conferment of honoris causa to four prominent personalities at the convocation of the varsity, scheduled on December 24.
During the Court meeting on Friday inside the campus at Aurobindo Bhavan, Dhankhar had initially raised his inhibitions, particularly with one of the four persons chosen by the Executive Council (EC) of the varsity for awarding D.Litt and D.Sc. However, he later approved all the names.
"The EC had recommended certain names and the Court unanimously agreed to all the names. I respect opinion of the Court members. However, in future we will extend our spectrum for wider involvement to get the best talent available, befitting the status of the university and its uniqueness," Dhankhar told reporters after the Court meeting.
Sources in the university said that the varsity's EC has decided to confer D Litt to Sankha Ghosh and Salman Haider and D.Sc to C N R Rao and Sanghamitra Chowdhury, director of the Indian Statistical Institute.
The Governor initially did not approve the name of Haider and said that he would go back to Raj Bhavan and take a decision on the same. However, when the Court members unitedly supported the decision of the EC, the Governor gave his nod.
The three faculties of student unions, namely Arts, Science and Technology, submitted deputations to the Governor after the Court meeting, while the Trinamool Chatra Parishad submitted a separate deputation. The Governor assured all of them that he will carefully examine the deputations and take steps accordingly.
"We have enquired about the Chancellor's opinion on the incident of vandalism at the campus of Jadavpur University on September 19, when Union minister Babul Supriyo had come to attend a programme. We also enquired about his reactions on the recent closure of a number of PSUs, but he did not reply. He only asked us to give everything in writing and asked us to meet him at Raj Bhavan. We are not too convinced," said Aishwarya Dev Goswami, a student of second year, Electrical Engineering.
