RBU interim vice-chancellor enters campus amid student protests after court order
Times of India | 26 March 2025
Kolkata: Armed with a Calcutta High Court order, RBU interim vice-chancellor Subhra Kamal Mukherjee on Tuesday entered the university's Jorasanko campus with police escorts amid student protests demanding his resignation. Mukherjee could not attend the office on Monday due to the Trinamool Congress-backed student union protests, who locked his office demanding he resign as his term was over. Along with Mukherjee, the RBU registrar also entered his office.
Since Tuesday morning, the protesting Trinamool Chhatra Parishad students locked the VC's room at the RBU Jorasanko campus. They staged a protest sitting in front of the locked door and shouted slogans against Mukherjee for hours for the second straight day. In these protests, staffers and the professors' association also backed the students. The interim VC and registrar did not go to the Jorasanko campus on Monday due to this and moved the Calcutta High Court.
With the HC order, he entered the Jorasanko campus with the court order along with police escorts. He told TOI, "I entered the campus with the court order. Students who locked the door have already been identified, and they will face consequences soon."
Earlier during the HC hearing, Justice Biswajit Basu expressed concern over the continued blockade of university entrances. "The Vice-Chancellor should not be obstructed. He should be escorted," Justice Basu emphasized, questioning why no action was taken despite prior knowledge of the situation.
According to the VC's lawyer, Bishwarup Bhattacharya, the protests have been occurring at both the Jorasanko and B T Road campuses. Complaints were filed at both Girish Park and Sithi police stations, with the latest complaint registered at 10:54 am on Tuesday by the university's security office.
State lawyer Basu Mallick confirmed cops were present at the campus on Monday and Tuesday too. The interim VC did not come to the campus. They have CCTV footage.
The court has mandated the state to submit a detailed report of police actions taken to resolve the situation. This report must be presented to Justice Joy Sengupta's court tomorrow. The court has ordered police to escort the interim VC to the Jorasanko campus and ensure his safe entry. Any further obstruction will need to be reported directly to the court, as per the judge's orders. MSID:: 119489009 413 |