Tripura Info: Agartala: Monday, 11 May 2026.
A major controversy has
erupted at Tripura University over the alleged unconstitutional composition of
its Executive Council (EC), with serious legal questions now being raised
regarding a series of decisions taken by the university’s highest decision making
body since February 2024. The controversy has intensified after RTI replies
reportedly confirmed that the proposed amendment to the Tripura University Act,
2006, has not yet received parliamentary approval or Gazette notification,
thereby lacking legal enforceability.
Legal experts and sections of the academic fraternity have expressed concern that all resolutions adopted by the present EC, including appointments and promotions of teaching and non-teaching staff, Career Advancement Scheme (CAS) promotions, convocationrelated decisions, and the suspension of the Executive Engineer, may face judicial scrutiny and could ultimately be declared invalid.
At the centre of the controversy lies the alleged violation of Section 12A of the First Amendment of 2010 of the Tripura University Act, 2006. The provision clearly mandates inclusion of two Deans in the EC according to seniority, one from the Faculty of Science and another from the Faculty of Arts and Commerce. However, critics allege that the present EC was constituted on the basis of a proposed Second Amendment of 2024, which has not yet become law.
According to RTI information obtained from the university, the proposed amendment is still awaiting passage in both Houses of Parliament and subsequent Gazette notification by the Department of Justice under the Ministry of Law and Justice. In the absence of these mandatory legal procedures, the proposed amendment presently has no statutory validity.
Despite this, Tripura University allegedly convened EC meetings from February 1, 2024 onward by including Prof. Chinmoy Roy as Dean representing the Faculty of Commerce, Law, Management, Physical Education and Library Science, along with Mr Praveen Saxena as representative of the Ministry of Education. Critics claim that the existing Act contains no provision for inclusion of a Ministry of Education representative in the EC.
Further allegations have surfaced regarding the replacement of incumbent Vice-Chancellor (In-Charge) Prof. Shyamal Das with Prof. Badal Kumar Datta under the category of one Professor, other than a Dean, according to seniority. Opponents argue that this inclusion violated the UGC Regulations, 2018, by treating Senior Professor as a separate cadre, despite no such distinction being recognized under the regulations.
The controversy has gained additional momentum after a university notification dated August 21, 2025 reportedly confirmed that Prof. Shyamal Das was the senior-most Professor of the university and therefore should have occupied the EC seat reserved for the senior-most Professor. However, records indicate that Prof. Badal Kumar Datta participated instead in Emergent EC Meetings held on December 13 and December 27, 2024, March 25 and May 21, 2025, as well as the 45th and 46th EC Meetings held on June 10 and August 14, 2025 respectively.
Serious objections have also been raised regarding the inclusion of Prof. Chinmoy Roy in the EC. Sources familiar with the matter claim that Prof. Roy was not the senior-most Dean among the faculties carved out of the erstwhile Faculty of Arts and Commerce. According to the reported seniority list, Prof. Vinod Kumar Mishra of the Department of Hindi is the senior-most Professor among the concerned faculties, followed by Prof. Sukhendu Debbarma of the Department of History, while Prof. Chinmoy Roy ranks third in seniority.
Section 12A(1)(iii) of the Tripura University Act, 2006 specifically states:
“Two Deans, one from each Faculty, by rotation according to seniority.”
Critics therefore allege that Prof. Chinmoy Roy’s inclusion in the EC violated the statutory provision and deprived the rightful senior-most Dean of representation in the university’s apex body.
The issue has reportedly alarmed sections of the legal fraternity, who believe that decisions taken by an allegedly unconstitutional EC may not withstand judicial examination. Legal observers have warned that if the EC is ultimately declared invalid, all decisions adopted during the disputed meetings could automatically become void, including staff appointments, promotions, convocationrelated approvals and disciplinary actions.
The controversy may further escalate with growing discussions surrounding the possibility of criminal conspiracy and administrative irregularity proceedings against former Vice-Chancellor Prof. GP Prasain, former Registrar Dr. Dipak Sharma, Mr. Praveen Saxena, Prof. Chinmoy Roy, Prof. Badal Kumar Datta and other EC members associated with the disputed decisions.
The development has triggered widespread debate within academic and legal circles in Tripura, with increasing demands for clarification from the university administration and intervention by appropriate authorities to ensure compliance with statutory and constitutional provisions governing the institution.
Legal experts and sections of the academic fraternity have expressed concern that all resolutions adopted by the present EC, including appointments and promotions of teaching and non-teaching staff, Career Advancement Scheme (CAS) promotions, convocationrelated decisions, and the suspension of the Executive Engineer, may face judicial scrutiny and could ultimately be declared invalid.
At the centre of the controversy lies the alleged violation of Section 12A of the First Amendment of 2010 of the Tripura University Act, 2006. The provision clearly mandates inclusion of two Deans in the EC according to seniority, one from the Faculty of Science and another from the Faculty of Arts and Commerce. However, critics allege that the present EC was constituted on the basis of a proposed Second Amendment of 2024, which has not yet become law.
According to RTI information obtained from the university, the proposed amendment is still awaiting passage in both Houses of Parliament and subsequent Gazette notification by the Department of Justice under the Ministry of Law and Justice. In the absence of these mandatory legal procedures, the proposed amendment presently has no statutory validity.
Despite this, Tripura University allegedly convened EC meetings from February 1, 2024 onward by including Prof. Chinmoy Roy as Dean representing the Faculty of Commerce, Law, Management, Physical Education and Library Science, along with Mr Praveen Saxena as representative of the Ministry of Education. Critics claim that the existing Act contains no provision for inclusion of a Ministry of Education representative in the EC.
Further allegations have surfaced regarding the replacement of incumbent Vice-Chancellor (In-Charge) Prof. Shyamal Das with Prof. Badal Kumar Datta under the category of one Professor, other than a Dean, according to seniority. Opponents argue that this inclusion violated the UGC Regulations, 2018, by treating Senior Professor as a separate cadre, despite no such distinction being recognized under the regulations.
The controversy has gained additional momentum after a university notification dated August 21, 2025 reportedly confirmed that Prof. Shyamal Das was the senior-most Professor of the university and therefore should have occupied the EC seat reserved for the senior-most Professor. However, records indicate that Prof. Badal Kumar Datta participated instead in Emergent EC Meetings held on December 13 and December 27, 2024, March 25 and May 21, 2025, as well as the 45th and 46th EC Meetings held on June 10 and August 14, 2025 respectively.
Serious objections have also been raised regarding the inclusion of Prof. Chinmoy Roy in the EC. Sources familiar with the matter claim that Prof. Roy was not the senior-most Dean among the faculties carved out of the erstwhile Faculty of Arts and Commerce. According to the reported seniority list, Prof. Vinod Kumar Mishra of the Department of Hindi is the senior-most Professor among the concerned faculties, followed by Prof. Sukhendu Debbarma of the Department of History, while Prof. Chinmoy Roy ranks third in seniority.
Section 12A(1)(iii) of the Tripura University Act, 2006 specifically states:
“Two Deans, one from each Faculty, by rotation according to seniority.”
Critics therefore allege that Prof. Chinmoy Roy’s inclusion in the EC violated the statutory provision and deprived the rightful senior-most Dean of representation in the university’s apex body.
The issue has reportedly alarmed sections of the legal fraternity, who believe that decisions taken by an allegedly unconstitutional EC may not withstand judicial examination. Legal observers have warned that if the EC is ultimately declared invalid, all decisions adopted during the disputed meetings could automatically become void, including staff appointments, promotions, convocationrelated approvals and disciplinary actions.
The controversy may further escalate with growing discussions surrounding the possibility of criminal conspiracy and administrative irregularity proceedings against former Vice-Chancellor Prof. GP Prasain, former Registrar Dr. Dipak Sharma, Mr. Praveen Saxena, Prof. Chinmoy Roy, Prof. Badal Kumar Datta and other EC members associated with the disputed decisions.
The development has triggered widespread debate within academic and legal circles in Tripura, with increasing demands for clarification from the university administration and intervention by appropriate authorities to ensure compliance with statutory and constitutional provisions governing the institution.
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