Calcutta HC raps West Bengal state government

In another blow to the West Bengal government after the Singur (Tat Motors) case, the Calcutta High Court reversed its order for 'illegally’ cancelling the appointment of Vice-Chancellor of West Bengal University of Health Sciences (WBUHS), Dr Amit Banerjee.

Dr Banerjee resumed his office on October 29.

Incidentally, Dr Banerjee, who joined his office as vice-chancellor on July 1 last year, on being released by central government on June 30, was told about the cancellation of his appointment through "an e-mail of university register". Dr Banerjee then moved the Calcutta High Court challenging the state health department’s order.

Speaking to DNA, his lawyer Ajay Datta, said, "We found that the state health department did not act correctly, they went beyond their brief. The Governor's office should have reacted in case there was a reason, but it didn’t."

When the case came up for hearing on September 27, a Division Bench ruled cancellation of his appointment as 'illegal’ and told the state government that he should be reinstated with all benefits of a vice-chancellor.

However, government sources said that a Special Leave Petition (SLP) was filed by the University in Supreme Court "without any prejudice".

Dr Banerjee was the head of the cardiology department at GB Pant Hospital, New Delhi. His appointment was finalised  much before the new government took over in West Bengal.

Incidentally, this happens to be the second major reversal the state government suffered after the Singur verdict over the Tata Motors' Nano project.