On July 8, Burdwan University notified that it was pausing the process for all prospective students’ admission to the six-month course, which had been scheduled for the next day.
The university’s vice-chancellor Goutam Chandra said the university’s administration would need to “clear security issues” with the Hooghly correctional home, where Dam is lodged. “Under the UGC guidelines, a candidate will have to complete course work in the first semester of the PhD. I have written to the Hooghly correctional home about their plans to ensure Dam’s security during the course work, and to figure out when he will attend classes. Secondly, (we will check) whether he has the clearance from higher authorities to pursue a PhD degree,” he said. He added that the jail authorities are yet to respond to his letter, sent on July 9.
Meanwhile, the general secretary of the Association for Protection of Democratic Rights (APDR), Ranjit Sur, called the university’s decision “a violation of human rights and, more importantly, the right of a jailed convict to pursue higher studies”. Pointing out that the convict had studied in prison, he said, “Why is he now being prevented from attending classes? When a jailed convict wants to contribute and enter into mainstream society, the state government is putting roadblocks. We want the administration to ensure that he gets to study further.”
Dam had appeared for his interview before the Burdwan University selection panel on June 26, under the watch of police and permission from correctional home authorities. He topped the merit list among a total of 220 applicants. The convicted Maoist leader had completed his graduation and post-graduation from the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) while in prison. Thereafter, he had applied for the PhD.
West Bengal Correctional Administration minister Akhil Giri said they are in talks with the higher education department to see how Dam can attend the course work. “The department will ensure Dam can pursue his PhD. We don’t have any example of anyone (from jail) pursuing it. This will be a first in recent times. We are trying to find out how he can attend the course work,” said Giri.
“Primarily, we have decided to shift him to the Burdwan correctional home, which is near Burdwan University, from where Dam wants to do his PhD. If he is kept at Hooghly correctional home, ferrying a life-term prisoner from Hooghly to Burdwan will be a security concern,” added the minister. Sources said the state education minister Bratya Basu is also trying to find ways to help Dam continue his higher studies.