This decisive action was triggered days after the university’s Inspector of Colleges accused Professor Chattopadhyay of demanding ₹3 lakh allegedly to cover legal expenses — a claim that has since become the subject of proceedings at the Calcutta High Court. Despite denying the allegations, Chattopadhyay’s authority to exercise the powers and responsibilities of Vice-Chancellor was revoked immediately by the Governor, according to a statement released by Raj Bhavan.
The matter escalated when the University’s convocation, scheduled for August 25, 2025, was cancelled following instructions from the State Education Department. However, Governor Bose insisted that the event proceed as planned, reiterating the autonomy of the university and the limitations of the government’s authority in academic affairs. Professor Chattopadhyay’s failure to carry out the convocation, in defiance of this directive, was deemed a serious act of negligence and is believed to have hastened his removal.
Chattopadhyay, a professor of chemistry, had been serving as the interim Vice-Chancellor since April 2024, after being selected from a list of state nominees. His short tenure, however, was mired in controversy, with the latest charges reinforcing a long-standing pattern of allegations directed at the Gour Banga University administration.
Over the years, the university has faced repeated claims of financial misconduct, including reports of illegal expenditure during its first convocation in 2016, when crores of rupees were allegedly spent without proper accounting. Since then, further irregularities have come to light involving untracked development funds under the higher education campaign. Complaints have also included the theft of documents and answer sheets, as well as broader institutional mismanagement.
Several university officials and professors have been suspended in the past due to their involvement in these scandals, contributing to the mounting frustration of the Chancellor. Wednesday’s statement from the Governor’s office conveyed his dissatisfaction with the deteriorating standards and confirmed that the removal of Chattopadhyay was a necessary step to restore integrity within the state’s academic system.
Political responses were swift. The BJP has strongly criticised the Vice-Chancellor and the alleged culture of corruption at Gour Banga University. Amid mounting pressure, the State Higher Education Department had previously dispatched four separate delegations to investigate the institution. Ironically, Professor Chattopadhyay had also been part of one such delegation — despite facing allegations himself.
Gour Banga University, located in Malda and established approximately 15 years ago, serves as the academic hub for 25 colleges in Malda and two in Dinajpur, catering to thousands of undergraduate and postgraduate students. The prolonged suspension of its convocation ceremonies since 2017 is widely attributed to unresolved tensions between the Governor’s office and the State government — tensions that have resurfaced sharply in this latest development.
With Professor Chattopadhyay’s dismissal, the Raj Bhavan has emphasized the need to uphold transparency and accountability within West Bengal’s higher education system. The move underscores the Governor’s determination to insulate academic institutions from administrative irregularities and political interference.
The future of Gour Banga University now hangs in the balance, as both administrative clarity and public trust will need to be restored through the appointment of a new Vice-Chancellor committed to institutional reform and academic integrity.
About the Author
