Vice-Chancellor (VC) Bidyut Chakrabarty took over his office at Visva Bharati University (VBU) in November 2018. Since then, the university has witnessed several show-cause notices and has become involved in approximately 100 legal cases. This includes an inquiry proceeding against Professor Manas Maity, the star Physics professor of the university.
Prof Maity challenged the proceedings at the Calcutta High Court (HC). Following which, the HC issued a stay order on the proceedings, and on November 18, the committee in charge of the inquiry suspended it as per the court's order.
“Prof Manas Maity has brought laurels for the university; it is a shame that he is getting harassed this way along with several others from the university,” says the President of the Visva-Bharati Faculty Association (VBUFA), Prof Sudipta Bhattacharyya.
When asked why, the professor cites political vendetta and differences in opinion as reasons. Earlier this year, Prof Maity was suspended on a duty-related offence, but faculty members claim it was because he wrote an email against the VC and participated in anti-VC protests.
Prof Suditpta Bhattachayya has also been at the receiving end of show-cause notices and suspension orders. In December 2020, he was issued a show-cause notice for allegedly breaching the code of conduct by communicating with the media.
As per a report by The Wire, soon after VC Bidyut Chakrabarty’s appointment, the institution issued a directive prohibiting professors from communicating with the media.
“Employees who raise their voice against socio-political issues or illegal activities in the institute are targeted and these whimsical rules and regulations are to curb their ability to do so," says philosophy department professor, Prof Kausik Bhattacharya, adding, "This is an exploitation of power to create a fear psychosis, such that no one dares to speak up.”
The curious case of Prof Manas Maity
Professor Maity, an executive member of VBUFA, is internationally renowned as a scientist. He was a part of the 2012 team that discovered the Higgs Boson particle as a part of the international project of the European Council for Nuclear Research (CERN). VBU, along with other Indian institutes, has been collaborating since 2005 on a global research initiative called Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS).
The Department of Science and Technology (DST) of the Union government has been funding the research conducted by Indian institutions, with Prof Maity as the project's lead investigator from VBU. However, following his suspension this year, the Vice Chancellor wrote to the DST, requesting that funding for his research be stopped. Subsequently, in a letter to the professor, the DST informed him of their inability to continue sanctioning the project.
Previously, Prof Manas Maity was also dismissed as the head of the Physics department after being accused of neglecting his duties. In response, he approached the High Court to challenge the actions taken against him. The court ruled in favor of the professor, criticising the Vice Chancellor's actions and describing them as a reflection of a "biased mindset" and a "small-minded approach." The court further prohibited the DST from taking such coercive actions.
Recently the disciplinary proceedings against Prof Maity have halted altogether after the HC dismissed the accusation files brought against him. “There are a number of court cases pending in the HC of Calcutta. Following Prof Maity’s writ petition, the HC has quashed the charge sheets issued against him which were the subject matters of the disciplinary proceedings. Hence, the enquiry officers decided not to carry on the proceedings,” informs a professor who preferred to be anonymous.
Prof Sudipta Bhattacharyya and the complaints against him
Prof Bhattacharyya, an economics professor at VBU, has received multiple show-cause notices. Among them was one for violating the university's code of conduct by communicating with the media. He was also accused of inciting students to engage in vandalism near the Vice Chancellor’s residence; a charge that he claims is “completely fictitious”.
The professor had previously been suspended for circulating a complaint letter and making derogatory remarks about a colleague, as well as forwarding copies of the same to high-level dignitaries via email. However, some people believe the real reason for his suspension was political vendetta and his outspokenness against the irregularities in the university.
In addition to this, the Board of Inquiry that was formed to conduct disciplinary proceedings against the Economics professor was initially composed of individuals closely associated with the Vice Chancellor.
“Rajesh Gagna, Advocate of the Delhi High Court was a personal lawyer of Bidyut Chakrabarty in a Sexual Harassment case against Delhi University in 2016,” informs Prof Bhattacharyya.
The formation of the board was challenged, and the High Court issued a stay order, preventing the committee from being changed without consulting the court. However, the Vice Chancellor went ahead and reappointed committee members without court approval, which Prof Bhattacharyya contends is a clear violation of the court order and constitutes contempt of court.
Minutes of the Board of Enquiry meeting that was shared with EdexLive, reads, “We, the Board of Enquiry, are of the considered view that unless a leave of Hon’ble High Court is obtained for constitution of Board of Enquiry as directed by the Hon’ble High court vide order…titled Sudipta Bhattacharyya Vs. Visva-Bharati & Ors., the further proceedings are deferred.”
When we approached a member of the Board of Enquiry for comments on the formation of this committee, they declined. We received the same response from the university officials.
Misuse of public funds and curbing democratic freedom?
The Telegraph reported on August 9, 2022, that even universities like Jawaharlal Nehru University, where the faculty members were embroiled in a huge rift with the VC at the time, had to witness fewer show-cause notices. The report also stated that nearly Rs 28 lakh has been spent by VBU in such legal and inquiry cases.
“Prof Bidyut Chakrabarty has initiated several disciplinary proceedings to victimise the staff and the students. Naturally, the victims of Chakraborty's had to seek legal remedy. In all cases, the HC has quashed Chakrabarty's illegal actions and recorded very strong adverse comments,” states a concerned faculty member, adding, “He spent 4 years at Visva-Bharati blaming others, complaining and whining and making false, ridiculous accusations against one and all.”
Echoing the same, Prof Kausik Bhattacharya says, “This is a complete misuse of public money. Most of the actions against the employees have no merit which is why they end up in court.” He further adds, “More than hundred court cases, suspension orders, stall in increment, demotions and more such unnecessary attacks on the employees have plagued the university since he got appointed.”
VBU was established by Rabindranath Tagore in the place he called the ‘Abode of Peace’ or Shantiniketan, as an effort to create an educational environment free from constraints and close to nature. However, owing to the recent events at the university, there seems to be a deliberate attempt to curb freedom inside the campus.
In 2021, three students were also rusticated for for participating in protests. Nonetheless, the rustication order was overturned after the students challenged it.
The university employees also attribute the decline in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) and National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) rankings of the varsity to the 'whimsical and anarchic' actions of the VC
“The whole administration is paralysed. The MoE (Ministry of Education) should immediately start criminal proceedings against Chakrabarty for illegal and damaging actions, squandering funds and tarnishing Visva-Bharati's image,” concludes a professor.
