Jadavpur University can hold its annual convocation as the state education department on Thursday evening finally allowed JU to convene a meeting of its executive council, an official in the department said.
The official said the department had communicated to the university’s registrar that JU could hold a meeting of the council and court, where the formalities for the convocation are required to be approved.
Earlier in the day, JU teachers had written to education minister Bratya Basu to ensure that graduating “students get their valid degrees and certificates in due time” through a convocation.
The teachers wrote in their emailed communication: “Convocation, an integral part of a long and glorious tradition of Jadavpur University, remains one of the most memorable and cherished events for our students.”
“Considering the future and emotions of our students, we, on behalf of the teachers of Jadavpur University, fervently request you to ensure that our students get their valid degrees….”
The state government had yet to grant the university permission to hold the convocation, which is usually held on December 24.
A similar communication had also been emailed to governor C.V. Ananda Bose who, by dint of his office, is the chancellor of state-aided universities.
The chancellor is also the chairman of JU’s court and the convocation is considered to be an extended meeting of the court.
The state education department had earlier restrained JU from holding any meeting of its executive council, the highest decision-making body of the university.
In repeated communications in November, the department had told JU that it should not hold meetings of any decision-making body as it did not have a regular (full-term) vice-chancellor.
The university is being helmed by officiating vice-chancellor Buddhadeb Sau.
Partha Pratim Ray, secretary of the JU Teachers’ Association, who signed the letter, said: “The students are calling us seeking to know whether the convocation would be held.”
Officiating VC Sau had on December 9 met education minister Basu at Bikash Bhavan, which houses the headquarters of the education department, to seek permission for the convocation.
A day later, JU registrar Snehamanju Basu had written to the education minister that it would be “an act of great injustice to the students” if they were not given degree certificates through a convocation.
