Kolkata, Dec 24 (IANS): Iconic Indian footballer Bhaichung Bhutia and Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) director general Avinash Chander were conferred with honorary degrees by Jadavpur University at its 59th Annual convocation here.

West Bengal Governor and University chancellor K.N. Tripathi conferred a degree of Doctor of Science on Chander and a degree of Doctor of Literature on the former Indian football captain at a special convocation.

University registrar read out the citation as Tripathi handed over the honorary degree scrolls to Chander and Bhutia respectively.

Chander, who is also the scientific adviser to Defence Minister and Secretary, Department of Defence R&D, has been honoured with several awards.

Hailed as the torchbearer of Indian football, Bhutia too has been recipient of several honours including the Arjuna Award and Padma Shri.

The convocation, however, was mired in controversy with a large number of students and teachers boycotting the event to press for their demands of resignation of vice chancellor Abhijit Chakrabarty for ordering a police crackdown on students besides pressing for an independent probe into the alleged molestation of a student in August.