Jadavpur University (JU) defers convocation, Governor Dhankhar calls it 'worrisome'

In a fresh stand-off with the Mamata Banerjee government, West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on Saturday put on hold the degree scrolls signed by him after the Jadavpur University deferred its scheduled December 24 special convocation and instead called a court meeting to discuss modus operandi of only conferring academic degrees to students. Amid speculations over the past few days about the Mamata Banerjee government's plans to cancel or push back the convocation, the JU Executive Council on Saturday decided to defer the programme "in view of representations from students organisations" as also press reports that students would boycott Dhankhar - the ex-officio Chancellor - if he was present at the event. Eminent scientist Rao, former Foreign Secretary Haidar, veteran Bengali poet Ghosh and eminent computer scientist Bandyopadhyay were to be conferred honorary doctorates at the Special Convocation of Jadavpur University to be held on December 24. Dhankhar said it was time for those "whose heart throbs for sound education scenario" to guide him so that "downward sliding of extraordinary and prestigious institute like Jadavpur University" is contained and autonomy restored by undoing "shackles of political bondage".