Jadavpur University convocation delayed as Governor CV Ananda Bose skips ceremony

The convocation ceremony at Jadavpur University was disrupted today as Governor CV Ananda Bose, who serves as the Chancellor, did not attend the event, despite expectations. The ceremony was scheduled to begin in the morning, but there was a delay while the university authorities awaited his arrival. After a prolonged wait, the university proceeded with the event without the Chancellor, and the designated chair for him remained empty throughout the proceedings. The flag-hoisting ceremony, part of the convocation rituals, was also halted as a result of the uncertainty surrounding the Governor’s attendance.

This incident is the latest in a series of tensions between Jadavpur University and Raj Bhavan, with both parties having clashed over various issues in the past. The Governor had previously raised objections to the convocation, arguing that the university was not adhering to proper procedures. Raj Bhavan had expressed concerns that the event was being conducted without following the required protocols, including the absence of the Chancellor’s approval for the convocation. In the past, a similar situation occurred when the previous convocation was held without the Chancellor, leading to legal and procedural questions about the validity of the degrees awarded.

Governor CV Ananda Bose had issued a letter stating that the university should appoint a permanent Vice Chancellor soon, and only then should the convocation duties be delegated to the new appointee. He criticized the hasty decision to hold the convocation in the absence of a permanent Vice Chancellor, urging that the ceremony be delayed until the leadership issue was resolved. Despite a series of meetings between the Governor and the university administration in the days leading up to the event, no agreement was reached. As a result, the convocation proceeded without the formal approval of the Chancellor, raising questions among students and researchers about the legitimacy of the degrees awarded in such circumstances.