the West Bengal University of Health Sciences (WBUHS) is running without a Vice-Chancellor

• • Health sciences varsity sans V-C

17 February 2011

sulagna sengupta
KOLKATA, 17 FEB: Believe it or not the West Bengal University of Health Sciences (WBUHS) is running without a Vice-Chancellor for the past two-and-a-half  months. 
Former Vice-Chancellor Dr PK Deb retired from the post in the last week of November 2010 and the Executive Council of West Bengal University of Health Sciences (WBUHS) had recommended Dr Amit Banerjee as its new Vice-Chancellor. Although his name has already been approved by the Governor, he is yet to join as V-C in the university. 
Dr Deb's retirement was scheduled for the last week of October, but he was on an extension for a month as the university could not nominate a suitable candidates for the post of V-C. 
Senior health officials of the university said that administrative work suffered in the absence of a V-C. Moreover, for cancelling the MD/MS examinations the approval of the V-C is needed, but it could not be cancelled due to his absence. 
The dates of the MBBS examinations which need to be rescheduled have also met the same fate.
Senior health officials said that three doctors were originally empanelled for the post of the V-C and later Dr Banerjee's name was selected and sent to the Chancellor for approval. The other two doctors were Dr Arunabha Roy who is associated with the pharmacology department of PGI Chandigarh and Dr Joysree Mitra who has retired as member of the Public Service Commission (PSC). 
Health officials said though the names of some senior health officials were originally proposed, their names were later cancelled following speculations that they were very close to state health minister Dr Surjya Kanta Mishra. To ensure transparency, the executive council decided to recommend a doctor from outside the state. 
A section of officials, however, feels that Dr Banerjee has shown reluctance to join as V-C of the university of Health Sciences as the salary offered to him is low compared to the salary he gets at the Govinda Ballabh Pant Hospital in Delhi. Moreover, if he joins administrative work, his career might be hampered. Dr Banerjee is a cardio-thoracic surgeon and director of Govinda Ballabh Pant Hospital in Delhi. They said it is still not clear whether he will at all join as V-C after speculations that he might not leave a Central government job and work as a V-C of a university. 
Dr Prabir Sur, pro-vice chancellor of the university, however, said the official letter has already been sent and he will be joining as the V-C very soon