5 days ago
NCSC Pulls Up Visva-Bharati VC Over Recruitment Reservation Lapses
A commission that protects the rights of Scheduled Castes is examining a professor’s recruitment at Visva-Bharati.
It is checking whether reservation rules were followed properly.
The commission asked the university’s vice chancellor, Probir Kumar Ghosh, to attend a hearing on August 20.
He did not attend, although other university officials were present.
The commission said his absence was serious.
It ordered him to attend the next hearing in person.
It warned that it could use special legal powers if its instructions are ignored.
Visva-Bharati said the recruitment was transparent and was not decided by the vice chancellor alone.
The NCSC criticized Visva-Bharati Vice Chancellor Probir Kumar Ghosh for missing an August 20 hearing.
The hearing concerned alleged irregularities in reservation-policy implementation during a professor’s recruitment.
The commission ordered Ghosh to appear personally at its next hearing.
It warned that non-compliance could trigger powers under Article 338(8), including civil-court-like powers to summon people and records.
Visva-Bharati defended the recruitment, saying the decision involved the full board and Centre representatives.
- Who
- The National Commission for Scheduled Castes, Visva-Bharati Vice Chancellor Probir Kumar Ghosh, and university officials.
- What
- The NCSC criticized the vice chancellor’s absence from a hearing concerning alleged reservation-policy lapses in a professor’s recruitment.
- Where
- At a hearing before NCSC member Dr Partha Biswas; the university involved is Visva-Bharati.
- When
- The hearing took place on August 20, and the commission’s letter was dated August 27; the articles do not specify the year.
- Why
- The commission is examining alleged irregularities in the implementation of reservation norms during the professor’s appointment.
NCSC concerns
Visva-Bharati’s defense
Vice chancellor’s absence
NCSC concerns
The NCSC viewed Probir Kumar Ghosh’s failure to attend the scheduled hearing very seriously and directed him to appear personally next time.
Visva-Bharati’s defense
The university said the vice chancellor may have been preoccupied and noted that university representatives attended the hearing.
Recruitment process
NCSC concerns
The commission is examining alleged irregularities in applying reservation norms during the appointment of a professor.
Visva-Bharati’s defense
Visva-Bharati said the recruitment was transparent, involved all board members, and was not decided unilaterally by the vice chancellor.
Compliance with the commission
NCSC concerns
The NCSC cautioned authorities to comply strictly and warned that it could use powers under Article 338(8) if directions are ignored.
Visva-Bharati’s defense
The university said it would respond to the commission according to law after receiving its letter.
Key facts
- Commission
- National Commission for Scheduled Castes
- University
- Visva-Bharati
- Hearing date
- August 20
- Letter date
- August 27
- NCSC member
- Dr Partha Biswas
- Next step
- The vice chancellor must personally appear at the next hearing.
- Possible consequence
- The commission warned it could invoke Article 338(8) powers, including summoning people and requiring documents and records.
Quotes
Visva-Bharati spokesperson
Spokesperson for Visva-Bharati defending the recruitment process.
“Representatives of the Centre were present during the interview process for the professor's recruitment. Our recruitment process was transparent. The VC might have been preoccupied, and he could not attend the commission's hearing. But representatives from the university were present during the hearing”
telegraphindia.com
“The recruitment decision was made in the presence of all members of the board and not unilaterally by the VC”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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