Kolkata: Jadavpur University's head of the English department Saswati Halder should not visit the campus during the probe in the hijab controversy as she might influence the investigation, suggested a seven-member state minority commission team. Halder said she was not even heard before the suggestion was made.
"I am not sorry for performing my duties as an HOD and a presiding officer of an exam. It is sad I was not called and my version was not heard before making the suggestion by the commission. It indirectly hints I am guilty. Every teacher would now think twice before invigilation duties," she said.
The commission held a meeting with VC Chiranjib Bhattacharjee, pro-VC Amitava Datta and registrar Selim Box Mandal on Tuesday. The members reportedly asked the university to inform them about the steps taken to check such incidents.
Commission chairperson Ahmed Hasan Imran said, "We feel it's a case of religious profiling. JU should take some drastic steps to send out a message of religious coexistence on the campus. We feel the professor should be asked not to visit the university for the sake of a fair probe. The students also demanded it. The victims are traumatised." Education minister Bratya Basu said, "Strict action will be taken. Such incidents are not tolerated in our state. Everyone has the right to practise their fundamental rights."
VC Bhattacharjee said, "They appreciated that we formed a panel. They have a few suggestions, which we will discuss. We told them it was a stray incident and we would take measures to ensure it's not repeated."
English HOD Halder on Monday submitted a report to the VC and pro-VC where she gave a chronological account of that day. "There are witnesses to what I said to the student in the classroom and then at the scholars room. They never resisted. The checking was done with their consent in a different room. There was no question of singling out students and hurting their religious sentiments. I apologised before checking and apologised again, after. I am ready to apologise again and again," she said. "The way I was harassed at the convocation stage, I felt unsafe at my workplace. A male student, with a poster with a crude caricature, chased me backstage."
Satnam Singh Ahluwalia of WBMC said, "Security steps can't overshadow students' dignity and faith. Institutes should treat matters of identity with sensitivity."