Kolkata principals hit out at Calcutta University for unilateral decision on PG exams’ venue

Kolkata college principals protest University of Calcutta's decision on PG exams, demanding consultation and fair governance in higher education.

In an unusual move, principals of Kolkata colleges have taken exception to not being consulted by the University of Calcutta on its decision to hold postgraduate examinations in external centres. In a State like West Bengal, heads of institutions are usually in line with the universities they are affiliated to and rarely ever voice their protest.

A prominent body of principals on Wednesday (April 2, 2025) released an angry statement against the university registrar for reportedly saying that there was no need to consult them while taking a decision to conduct exams for PG students in colleges other than their own.

“The Calcutta University Committee of the All-Bengal Principals’ Council strongly condemns the disrespectful remark made by the Registrar of the University of Calcutta on April 1 in the media, stating, ‘There is nothing to consult with the principals.’ Additionally, the committee denounces the decision of the university syndicate meeting to implement key modalities for holding postgraduate examinations in external centres without consulting the principals of its affiliated colleges,” Manas Kabi, secretary of the council’s Calcutta University Committee, said in the statement.

“We wish to clarify that we are not opposed to the concept of external centres for PG examinations. However, as principals, we too have inputs regarding this matter, which should have been taken into consideration. Instead, the university administration imposed this rule forcefully in 2024 without a proper resolution by the syndicate meeting,” Dr. Kabi said.

He said that in 2024, postgraduate students of Chemistry and Physics from affiliated colleges were compelled to appear for their examinations at the university, while university students took theirs from their home centre, that is the university itself. “This discriminatory approach continues to raise serious concerns about fairness and equality. How can the university administration justify imposing the rule on away centres for PG examinations without a proper resolution from the syndicate? This question begs an immediate answer,” Dr. Kabi said.

What has angered the body most is the reported statement by the registrar of the University of Calcutta wherein he said, “There is nothing to consult with the principals. We have given affiliation to the colleges to run postgraduate courses and, if the standards of the programmes are to be maintained, they have to listen to what the university has decided.” The council called the registrar’s remark “completely undemocratic”.

“It is also important to note that the colleges were granted affiliation not only by the affiliating university, that is, the University of Calcutta, but also by the West Bengal Higher Education Council. The decision to impose rules arbitrarily without taking into account the voices of affiliated colleges is also against the principles of fair governance in higher education,” the statement said.