Bengal Governor removes Gour Banga University VC over duty neglect, corruption allegations
Kolkata: West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose on Wednesday removed Gour Banga University Vice-Chancellor Pabitra Chattopadhyay over alleged dereliction of duty and graft charges.
According to Raj Bhavan sources, the convocation at the Malda-based university was scheduled for August 25. Despite the Chancellor’s directive to go ahead with the event, Chattopadhyay failed to organise it. The convocation has not been held since 2017 due to recurring disputes between the state government and the Governor’s office.
The Governor’s decision came days after the university’s Inspector of Colleges accused Chattopadhyay of demanding ₹3 lakh to cover legal expenses. Cases over alleged irregularities have already been filed in the Calcutta High Court.
Raj Bhavan stated, “The authorisation granted to Professor Pabitra Chattopadhyay to exercise the powers and perform the duties of the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Gour Banga is annulled with immediate effect.”
Governor Bose had appointed Chattopadhyay as interim Vice-Chancellor in April 2024 from a list of state nominees. Raj Bhavan sources said the step was necessary to maintain transparency and integrity in West Bengal’s higher education system
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41 lakh illicit liquor seized, 1.84 lakh arrested in major drive: K'taka Minister tells Assembly
Belagavi (Karnataka) (PTI): The Karnataka Excise Department has conducted a statewide crackdown on illegal liquor trade over the last two years, resulting in arrests and seizures of alcohol, Karnataka Excise Minister R B Timmapur said on Tuesday.
As many as 1,09,017 people were arrested, and seizures included 13.66 lakh litres of liquor and 27.19 lakh litres of beer, he said in a written reply to a starred question by Harihar BJP MLA B P Harish in the Karnataka Assembly.
The Minister said the enforcement drive covered the financial year 2023–24, 2024–25 up to June, and 2025–26 from July to October, targeting unauthorised liquor manufacture, storage, sale and transportation across the State.
"During this period, statewide enforcement drives resulted in a total of 1,84,570 raids against illegal liquor sales,” Timmapur said.
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He noted that 9,179 non-bailable cases and 91,968 bailable and compoundable cases under Section 15(A) of the Karnataka Excise Act, 1965, were registered during the same period.
According to him, there have been no reports indicating that students have become addicted to alcohol due to illegal liquor sales.
The sale of alcohol to minors is strictly prohibited under the Karnataka Excise Act, 1965, and the department has issued periodic instructions to initiate legal action against violators, with strict enforcement and investigation measures in place, the Minister said.
Excise officials are carrying out regular road and night patrols, collecting intelligence, monitoring habitual offenders and conducting raids to identify illicit distillation units, unauthorised liquor outlets and spurious liquor manufacturing centres, he said, adding the department is also enforcing the law to prevent the production, storage, sale and transport of spurious, non-duty-paid and unauthorised liquor.
Regular patrols are being conducted on national and state highways, with suspicious vehicles being subjected to checks.
At the district level, standing committee meetings are held under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioners, and joint operations are carried out with the police and forest departments to curb excise-related offences.
The department is also conducting awareness programmes through Gram Sabhas and in schools and colleges to educate the public and students about the physical, mental and social health hazards associated with alcohol addiction and substance abuse, Timmapur added.
