NEW DELHI: Jadavpur University is facing a controversy over the scheduling of its convocation after lapses in procedural compliance were pointed out by the university’s Registrar and the Chancellor.
The Vice-Chancellor’s decision to hold the convocation on December 24, 2024, has raised concerns over the bypassing of the university’s Court, the legal body responsible for such decisions.
A notice from the university issued on December 23 called for the first meeting of the 11th Court of Jadavpur University, which is scheduled for December 24, 2024, at the Open Air Theatre. The meeting, however, is centered on the conferment of degrees to students who have completed all academic requirements, without any mention of the convocation. This shift has sparked confusion regarding the university’s adherence to its legal framework.
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According to university regulations, the convocation can only be held on December 24, or another date approved by the Executive Council with the Chancellor’s approval. However, an emergency Executive Council meeting on December 17, 2024, hastily proposed the convocation date, which some view as a rushed move to cover up procedural lapses.
In a letter dated December 20, 2024, the Vice-Chancellor admitted to “some procedural lapses” in deciding on the date of the convocation and expressed regret over the inability to adhere to the university’s statutes. However, the Hon’ble Governor and Chancellor of Jadavpur University found the explanation unsatisfactory.
The Registrar’s communication emphasized that the Court, which has legal authority over the convocation date, was not consulted, thus violating the university’s established rules. “The Court has to be convened with sufficient notice, and the competent authorities’ approval must be obtained before significant expenditures are made for the event,” the Registrar stated.
The Registrar also noted that despite the lack of approval, logistical arrangements for the convocation had already been completed, leading to unauthorized financial expenditure. This move, the Registrar highlighted, violated the legal framework for the convocation process.
Furthermore, the letter highlighted that with the ongoing process to appoint a new permanent Vice-Chancellor, it would have been prudent to postpone the convocation until the new VC could be involved in the decision-making process.
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In response, the Registrar made a pointed remark on the importance of legal adherence: “It is expected that the authorized Vice-Chancellor observe all legal proprieties and not flout the Act and Rules. It is rightly said, ‘Be you ever so high, the law is always above you’.”
As the controversy continues, the student community remains at the center of the debate, with the legitimacy of the upcoming degrees now called into question due to the unapproved convocation planning.