In the previous fortnight, Visva-Bharati University was once more rocked by protests – this time, over the expulsion of three college students on 23 August. whereas The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday allowed him to re-join lessons, Paving the way in which for the return of normalcy, there have been steady protests – by each academics and college students – since Vice-Chancellor Vidyut Chakraborty took cost in October 2018.
Faculty members level to the unusually excessive variety of suspensions. Since November 2019, 22 employees members – 11 school members, 11 non-teaching employees – have been suspended and greater than 150 present trigger notices have been issued.
Some of the suspended academics mentioned they needed to face motion for numerous causes, together with writing a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi towards alleged irregularities within the central college. Others alleged that he was suspended on alleged fees together with dereliction of obligation and monetary irregularities. All 5 have challenged their suspension in court docket.
whereas Indian Express Spoke to a few of the suspended professors, VC Chakraborty and PRO of the college, Anirban Sarkar, each didn’t reply to calls or textual content messages.
“The university suspended me for making derogatory remarks against a female colleague, which is a baseless allegation, and for circulating a complaint. Some of us wrote a mail against the VC to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is the Chancellor of Visva-Bharati, President Ram Nath Kovind and West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar. These are not offenses that can be grounds for suspension,” mentioned Visva-Bharati University Faculty Association (VBUFA) president Sudipta Bhattacharya, who’s amongst these suspended.
suspension order, seen by Indian Express, Citing “large-scale misconduct” towards a fellow worker by circulating a grievance and derogatory/derogatory/baseless remarks and forwarding copies of the identical to excessive dignitaries by electronic mail.
The order was issued on January 7 this 12 months after Bhattacharya wrote to the PM alleging irregularities within the appointment of a principal of Path Bhavan, a part of the college. While the suspension was initially for 3 months, it was prolonged twice – for an additional three months after which for 2 extra months.
“Those who did not listen to the V-C or spoke out against their functioning were at the end,” alleged Bhattacharya, professor of economics. “A trainer within the physics division was suspended for assembly a professor who was heading a committee probing the allegations towards me. Could this be the explanation for the suspension? Both the academics are shut pals.”
When contacted, the physics professor, who didn’t want to be named, mentioned: “I was suspended on March 6 after visiting a fellow teacher’s house. I have nothing more to say on this. Everyone knows why such action was taken against me.” The suspension order referred to “attempts to influence the investigating officer”.
Bhattacharya alleged that Professor Tathagata Choudhary of the Department of Bio-Technology was suspended after a dispute with the principal of an institute, who was near the VC. The suspension order dated December 2, 2019, seen by The Indian Express, states that “the decision was taken after considering the report of a one-member inquiry committee on complaints lodged by the Principal of Shiksha Bhavan, Professor Kashinath Chatterjee.”
Choudhary has challenged the suspension order within the Calcutta High Court.
Three principals of Bhasha Bhavan – Abhijit Sen, Kailash Chandra Patnaik and Narottam Senapati – have additionally challenged their suspension on June 4, 2020 for alleged monetary irregularities. Sen has since retired from service.
An assistant professor mentioned on situation of anonymity that he was suspended on March 13 this 12 months for “dereliction of duty in his department”.
“I used to visit the academic and research section almost everyday between 3.30 pm and 6 pm, neglecting my duties, the official show cause letter said. Being a teacher, I have the freedom to attend such classes, and I did so after my classes. It can never be a reason for suspension. The real reason I refused to sign against a coworker was when the university wanted to impose sanctions against him. I also protested against the misbehavior meted out to him. I told the VC that I will not sign against any of my colleagues. On March 13, I was suspended for three months, later it was extended for another three months,” he mentioned.
“Tomorrow, I will complete my six-month suspension. Six months ago he gave me a show cause letter; I replied. They formed a one-man inquiry committee and then suspended me. I got only 50% of my monthly salary. Three months later, they sent me a notice that an inquiry has been initiated and the suspension has been extended by three more months. But there was no inquiry, no hearing. No one called me… They took away my freedom to teach me. I was supposed to get 75% of my salary after three months, but I got it only for August,” he mentioned.
Another physics professor mentioned he and a colleague have been suspended after a proper grievance was filed towards the VC with the native police. His suspension order cited “gross indiscipline and misconduct”.
“My colleagues and I ran to the aid of the teachers of the English department who had been wrongly locked in a room by the university authorities. Later we lodged a complaint against the VC with the local police station. We also wrote to the Prime Minister and the President against him. On August 23, we were suspended indefinitely,” mentioned the professor, who didn’t want to be named.
VBUFA president Sudipta Bhattacharya admitted that the allegations towards a few of the suspended professors could also be true. “It is a matter of investigation to find out whether all are guilty. But a large number of them have been wrongly suspended, which is very evident from the reasons stated by the authorities in such suspension orders,” Bhattacharya mentioned.
Besides the suspension, 9 educating and non-teaching employees members have been sacked, together with former performing VC Sabuj Koli Sen.
Along with former registrar Saugata Chattopadhyay and former finance officer Samit Ray, Sen was faraway from service on August 28, 2020, simply two days earlier than his retirement. .
University officers are additionally accused of withholding the retirement advantages of two academics and two different non-teaching employees; and salaries of three academics and two non-teaching employees. Some different school members have additionally confronted motion, together with their removing as headmasters, vice-principals and heads of departments.
From scrapping the annual Poush Mela (winter honest) to declaring Nobel laureate Amartya Sen as one of many unlawful occupants of VBU land, the college has seen a number of controversies after Chakraborty took over as VC.
Criticizing the actions of the VC, famous historian Nrisinh Prasad Bhaduri mentioned: “Teachers and students are an integral part of any educational institution. The VC has angered him with his decision on suspension. He wants to take them into confidence and negotiate. And have failed to resolve the issues through discussion. He is not a good administrator and is acting like a dictator.”
“No one can oppose everyone else in the university. The VC has to handle the issues delicately by taking all the concerned persons into confidence. No university can run in opposition to both the teacher and student communities. A university is not a factory where one issues strict guidelines. A VC should be in regular touch with the teachers and students. He can never take the situation to the point of no return,” mentioned educationist and former VC of Rabindra Bharati University Pabitra Sarkar.
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
