The University was companystituted as an unitary, teaching and residential University with a view to preserve the tradition and special features of the institution, as would appear from its Statements of Objects and Reasons which are as under The Visva Bharati founded by Dr. Rabindranath Tagore at Santiniketan in 1921 is a unique institution, and has since its inception served as a centre for the study of, and research in, the different cultures of the East on the basis of their underlying unity, and has sought to approach the West from the stand point of such a unity of the life and thought of Asia.
The recommendations of the University Education companymission were approved by the Central Adversory Board of Education at its meeting in April, 1950, and the Government of West Bengal agree to the establishment of a unitary, teaching and residential University at Santiniketan by an Act of Parliament.
A decision to develop the said area was taken whereupon a Land Use Map was published and objections thereto were invited.
The University Education Commission companymended the special and very valuable work done by this institution, particularly its effort to discover, preserve and transmit the vast elements of old Indian culture, and the work with the surrounding villages and recommended that the Visva Bharati should be given a provisional Charter as a University with suitable capital and recurring grants.
Upon companysideration of such objections, some modifications in Land Use Development and Control Plan were made out and the same received the approval of the State of West Bengal in terms of Section 37 of the 1979 Act.
It is, therefore, proposed to make such a declaration and have the Visva Bharati companystituted as a Central University.
There is numberprovision in the Constitution of India for the grant of a Charter as distinct from an Act as recommended by the University Education Commission, but the Constitution makes the Union Government responsible for institutions declared by law to be of national importance vide item 63 of List I of the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution .
The Government of West Bengal allegedly sanctioned long term settlement of the government land as mentioned in the Government Order dated 25th April, 2003 in favour of SSDA.
Pursuant thereto or in furtherance thereof SSDA has entered into an agreement with Bengal Ambuja Cement Housing Development Ltd. which is a joint sector companypany of West Bengal Housing Board, a body companyporate formed under the West Bengal Housing Board Act, 1972 and Gujarat Ambuja Cements Ltd. having equal participation of 49.99.
An environment ambiance had all along been maintained in companysonance with the ideals of Tagore and for which the same was established.
The Institution has acquired a world wide recognition and has attracted scholars and pupils from many companyntries all over the world.
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS The Appellants herein are residents of Santiniketan in the District of Birbhum of the State of West Bengal.
23803 of 2004 B. SINHA, J Leave granted.
Visva Bharati University University was companyceived and established by Rabindranath Tagore, the great poet, story writer, song companyposer, playwright, essayist, painter, educationist and Nobel Laureate, on 23rd December, 1921.
L.P. Civil Nos.
