17 hrs ago
Jadavpur University to Submit Three Years of Council Records
Jadavpur University has been asked to share records of important decisions made by its executive council.
The records will cover three academic years.
The university’s acting registrar said they would be sent to the higher education department next week.
The department is especially interested in decisions about extensions given to two former officials.
A university official said these records will be submitted even though such requests are unusual.
A teachers’ group linked to ABRSM supports the department’s request.
Another teachers’ group says the request interferes with the university’s independence.
The university will also send records about PhD admissions from the past 10 years.
Jadavpur University will send the higher education department executive council decisions and approved minutes from 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26.
Acting registrar Debajit Datta said the records would be submitted next week, following a departmental request dated August 5.
The submission is expected to include approvals for extensions granted to former acting registrar Selim Box Mandal and acting finance officer Shiladitya Chatterjee.
The university will also provide 10 years of PhD admission records after the department raised concerns about university-level entrance tests.
Supporters say the department has the right to investigate alleged irregularities, while critics say the request threatens university autonomy.
- Who
- Jadavpur University, its executive council, the higher education department, and acting registrar Debajit Datta.
- What
- The university will submit three years of executive council minutes and decisions, along with 10 years of PhD admission records.
- Where
- Jadavpur University and the state higher education department.
- When
- The department requested the council records in a letter dated August 5; Datta said they would be sent the following week after his September 9 appointment.
- Why
- The department sought the records to examine executive council decisions, including disputed extensions for two officials, and PhD admission procedures after allegations of irregularities.
Autonomy Concerns
Oversight Argument
Request for Executive Council Minutes
Autonomy Concerns
A teacher from the Jadavpur University Teachers Association said the higher education department was infringing on the university’s autonomy by seeking executive council decisions.
Oversight Argument
ABRSM president Bhaskar Sardar said the department was entitled to examine the minutes, particularly amid allegations that extensions were granted illegally.
Scrutiny of Official Extensions
Autonomy Concerns
Critics of the department’s intervention view the request as an unusual expansion of government control over the university’s highest decision-making body.
Oversight Argument
Supporters say reviewing the minutes can establish under what law the extensions for Selim Box Mandal and Shiladitya Chatterjee were approved.
Key facts
- Council records covered
- Academic years 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26
- Submission timing
- Acting registrar Debajit Datta said the records would be sent next week.
- Records requested
- Items discussed and minutes approved at executive council meetings
- Officials involved in disputed extensions
- Former acting registrar Selim Box Mandal and acting finance officer Shiladitya Chatterjee
- PhD records covered
- Admissions from the past 10 years
- Department request
- A letter dated August 5 sought the executive council details.
- Registrar appointment
- Debajit Datta was appointed acting registrar on September 9.
Quotes
Bhaskar Sardar
President of the ABRSM and former Jadavpur University executive council member
“At a time when a controversy has erupted over illegal extensions granted to JU’s acting registrar and acting finance officer, the department is within its rights to seek details of the minutes approved by the EC and find out under what law this was done.”
telegraphindia.com
“During the Trinamool government, JU was required to take permission to hold EC meetings. The BJP government has gone a step further by seeking details of the decisions endorsed by the EC.”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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