West Bengal vice chancellors appointment: Supreme Court directs governor to name VCs

The Supreme Court on May 9, 2026 ordered West Bengal governor R N Ravi to complete the West Bengal vice chancellors appointment by naming VCs for three state universities from a shortlist prepared by a search-cum-selection committee headed by former CJI U U Lalit.

What the West Bengal vice chancellors appointment order says

A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi said the three shortlisted candidates should be appointed after the conclusion of procedural formalities. The court asked the governor, who is also the chancellor of state universities, to give assent and make the appointments within four weeks .

The order covers the three remaining universities named by the panel: North Bengal University (NBU), Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University of Technology (MAKAUT) and Netaji Subhash Open University (NSOU). The bench recorded its appreciation for the efforts of former CJI U U Lalit, Attorney General R Venkataramani and senior advocate Jaideep Gupta in resolving the dispute.

Next steps for the West Bengal vice chancellors appointment

The Supreme Court disposed of the West Bengal government's plea filed in 2023 that related to a larger tussle over VC appointments in 36 state-aided universities. The apex court had earlier constituted the selection committee on July 8, 2024 to break the impasse.

The state assembly had passed the West Bengal Universities (Amendment) Bill in June 2022 , seeking to make the chief minister the chancellor in place of the governor. The court had sought responses before constituting the committee.

Under the order, the shortlisted names prepared by the U U Lalit-led committee must be used for the three appointments. The court made clear these appointments remain subject to completion of the usual procedural formalities before the governor signs the warrants.

Immediate administrative impact is straightforward: the three universities will receive confirmed leadership once the governor signs the appointment letters. The resolution also removes a legal cloud over VC selections that affected governance across several state institutions.

Lawyers and officers present in court welcomed the disposal of the 2023 plea and noted the set timetable. The court’s direction aims to end a long-running standoff between the governor’s office and the state over university control and appointments.

The government and the governor’s office have four weeks from the order to finalise the appointments for NBU, MAKAUT and NSOU, subject to completion of required formalities.