Ex-CJI UU Lalit appointed as head of committee by SC to oversee appointment of VCs in West Bengal

New Delhi [India], July 9 : The Supreme Court on Monday appointed former Chief Justice of India Uday Umesh Lalit, as chairperson of the search-cum-selection committee for all the universities in West Bengal.
A bench of justices Surya Kant and KV Viswanathan said, "We hereby appoint Justice Uday Umesh Lalit, Former Chief Justice of India as Chairperson of the Search-cum-Selection Committees for all the Universities."
The top court was hearing the West Bengal Govt petition challenging the Calcutta High Court order to dismiss the state government plea against the Governor's decision to appoint around 28 interim vice-chancellors. The Mamta Banerjee-led government in West Bengal was having differences with Governor C V Ananda Bose over the supervision role on such appointments.
"We may hasten to add at this stage that notwithstanding some variance in the provisions of the Acts under which Vice Chancellors are to be appointed, especially with regard to composition of the Search-cum-Selection Committee, we deem it appropriate to invoke our powers under Article 142 of the Constitution to do complete justice in this matter and pass this common order for constitution of Search-cum-Selection Committee for all the subject Universities," the top court said.
The top court said that its decision to constitute Search-cum-Selection Committee is to infuse
transparency, independence, fairness, and impartiality to ensure that the persons possessing the highest level of competence and integrity capable of leading the University by example are shortlisted.
The top court also said that the recommendations made by the search-cum-Selection committee shall be put up before the Chief Minister for necessary consideration.
In case the Chief Minister, State of West Bengal has reasons to believe that any shortlisted person is unsuitable for appointment as Vice Chancellor, the remarks to this effect along with supporting material and the original record of the recommendation made by the Search-cum-Selection Committee, shall be put up before the learned Chancellor within two weeks. The Chief Minister shall be entitled to recommend the shortlisted names in order of preference for appointment as ViceChancellors," the top court said.
"The learned Chancellor shall accord his approval (save and except when there is a difference of opinion) within two weeks of receipt of file from the Chief Minister of the State. The Department of Higher Education, Government of West Bengal, or any other concerned Department of the State Government are hereby directed to notify the appointment within one week from the date of receipt of approval from the learned Chancellor of the University," the court said.
"In the case(s) where the Chief Minister of the State has objected to the inclusion of any name in the panel and such objection is not acceptable to the Chancellor or where the Chancellor has an objection against empanelment of any particular name for which he has assigned his own reasons, all such files shall be put up before this Court. We make it clear that a final decision in this regard shall be taken by this Court after giving reasonable opportunity of being heard to the objectors," the court said.