Kolkata: The National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) asked the Jadavpur University registrar to submit facts and information on the action taken following a second-year IR department student's complaint against associate professor Arup Bhattacharya, who allegedly made hateful comments against the Constitution and negated its authority.
The student claimed Bhattacharya said "to tear apart the Constitution and throw it into the water" and that he attacked B R Ambedkar by saying, "What's the use of studying Ambedkar and his constitutional debates?"
The SC panel on Dec 30 asked the registrar to submit the report within seven days after the student wrote to the commission on Dec 27, informing them about her complaint against the professor and alleging "inaction" from the university.
The JU IR department formed a fact-finding committee on Dec 16 and was supposed to submit a report within 15 working days after the student lodged the complaint. But a JU official said there had hardly been eight working days since Dec 16. VC Chiranjib Bhattacharjee said, "Everyone at the university was busy with convocation. Moreover, there were year-ending holidays. So there has been some delay. It will be taken into account and dealt with fast."
The student said, "No action was taken by the department or university authorities. The probe panel was to submit its report in 15 days but they did not call me for my statement. They have not submitted a report though 15 days are over. So I mailed the SC panel asking them to hold JU authorities accountable, and direct them to suspend the professor and ask him to apologise publicly."
Claiming a misunderstanding, Bhattacharya said, "I am cooperating with the investigation and already expressed my version."
The NCSC has told JU if it did not get a reply, "the Commission may exercise the powers of Civil Courts conferred on it... and issue summons for your appearance in person or by a representative before the Commission".