In an open letter addressed to Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud, students from the National University of Juridical Sciences (NUJS), Kolkata, have demanded the immediate suspension of their Vice Chancellor based on allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct. Justice Chandrachud also happens to be the University Chancellor.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!
KOLKATA: In an open letter addressed to Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud, students from the National University of Juridical Sciences (NUJS), Kolkata, have demanded the immediate suspension of their Vice Chancellor, Prof. N.K. Chakrabarti, based on serious allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct.
Chief Justice Chandrachud, who also serves as the University Chancellor, is called upon to take immediate action.
The allegations against Prof. Chakrabarti pertain to his alleged misconduct towards a female professor, who claims she was subjected to repeated instances of sexual harassment between 2019 and 2023. Additionally, she faced delays in salary disbursements, denial of promotional opportunities, and other forms of professional misconduct by the Vice Chancellor during this period.
In their open letter, the students of NUJS have laid out five “unconditional demands” for the Chief Justice of India. These demands are:
- Immediate Suspension of the Vice Chancellor: The students have demanded, “We demand immediate suspension of the Vice Chancellor from his office and that he be prevented from undertaking any duties or responsibilities… until his acquittal.”
- Refusal of Tenure Extension: Due to a lack of confidence in his abilities, the students have asked that no extension be granted to Prof. Chakrabarti. They stated, “Finally, we resolutely demand that owing to the lack of confidence of the NUJS General Body towards the Vice Chancellor, coupled with the allegations discussed, no extension be granted to him…”
- Dismissal of the Fact-Finding Committee: The students have called for the dismissal of a fact-finding committee set up by the V-C himself to investigate the allegations.
- Protection for the Complainant: Ensuring that the complainant does not face further harassment or hostility from the University, and that an unbiased investigation is conducted.
The students’ letter follows a significant ruling by the Calcutta High Court, which last week directed a local committee constituted under the POSH Act to reconsider its earlier decision to dismiss the complaint on the grounds that it was “barred by limitation.” This meant the complaint was filed after the legally permissible period for such complaints. However, the High Court found that the allegations were of a “continuing nature” and hence valid.
The High Court order stated,
“In my view, the order dated March 5, 2024, passed by the local committee is not sustainable and, accordingly, the same is set aside with a direction upon the local committee to conclude the proceedings initiated on the complaint …on merit in accordance with the provisions of the Act of 2013.”
The student body has strongly supported the complainant and condemned the actions of the local committee, which they believe showed a “presumption of falseness.” They alleged that Prof. Chakrabarti was attempting to abuse his power and undermine the legal process.
“The alleged hostility and indifference by the University Administration and repeated retaliatory actions undertaken by the Vice Chancellor are unequivocally condemned by the student body,”
-says the letter.
The students further added,
“These alleged actions constitute blatant patriarchal exploitation and an attempt to undermine [the professor’s] respect and dignity at the workplace.”
The students found it “appalling” that the committee and administration appeared complicit in the oppression of the complainant, disregarding the nature of the allegations.
Additionally, the students have insisted that any attempts by the Vice Chancellor to influence University body meetings regarding the allegations should be seen as an abuse of power.
The University’s high-powered Executive Council had allegedly “vilified” the complainant for directly approaching the Chief Justice of India in November and December 2023.
The students opposed such views, noting that approaching the CJI was not prohibited by any law, including the NUJS Act, under which the University operates. They asserted that the complainant could not be faulted for seeking direct intervention from Chief Justice Chandrachud.
READ/DOWNLOAD LETTER TO CJI-
Click Here to Read Previous Reports on Sexual Harassment
Click Here to Read Previous Reports on CJI
FOLLOW US ON YOUTUBE FOR MORE LEGAL UPDATES
