The officiating finance officer of Visva-Bharati, Samit Ray, has resigned from the post after he was instructed to give up the hired car and use the varsity’s car pool as part of an austerity drive.

Sources said Ray felt “humiliated” as vice-chancellor Bidyut Chakraborty had given the directive without consulting him through an official.

Ray, a botany professor at the varsity, however, cited ‘academic pressure’ as the reason for the resignation.

Chakraborty is on leave and Kala Bhavana principal Goutam Das is officiating as the VC at the moment.

“We received the resignation of the officiating finance officer and it has been accepted. The joint finance officer will take charge for the moment,” the officiating VC said.

Sources said Ray had received a call from an official who looks after transport department on Saturday and was told that the VC had asked him to give up the hired car he was using and to avail himself of the varsity’s car pool.

“Ray felt humiliated as the decision was taken without discussing the matter with him. He first informed officiating registrar Sougata Chattopadhyay verbally and sent in his resignation to the VC,” said a university official.

Ray told his close circles that he was using the car as it was hired since the time of the previous finance officer and it hurt him when he was asked to give up the car over the phone by a varsity official.

“He (Ray) told us that if the measure was taken as part of cost cut measure, then it should have been discussed with him first because he was the officiating finance officer,” an official close to Ray said.

Ray, however, said: “I have tendered my resignation because of academic pressure. I will be busy with my academic assignments very soon. I have been informed verbally that my resignation has been accepted.”

Sources said a Toyota Etios was hired for the finance officer and cost around Rs 25,000 per month.

“Apart from the VC, there is a dedicated car for officiating registrar Sougata Chattopadhyay. But he (Chattopadhyay) doesn’t use it. All other officials avail themselves of the car pool. After joining the varsity, the new VC is enforcing cost control as it was facing a funds crunch. The instruction to give up the hired cars is part of the austerity drive,” an official said.