Students at the West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences (WBNUJS) in Kolkata have intensified their protest, now attending classes with black armbands to signal their unwavering demand for Vice-Chancellor Prof. Nirmal Kanti Chakrabarti’s immediate resignation.
This latest phase of protest follows a marathon 20-hour demonstration over the weekend, where students unequivocally called for Chakrabarti’s ouster and the establishment of a search committee to appoint a new VC by October 31st. They have issued a clear warning: if their demands are not met by the end of October, the stir will escalate.
A representative from the Student Juridical Association (SJA) explained, “After nearly a full day of protesting directly before the VC, we transitioned to attending classes on Monday, September 22nd, with black bands. Some of us are even standing throughout our lectures, ensuring our presence is felt without disrupting academic activities.”
During the initial weekend protests, students surrounded Chakrabarti, holding placards that read, “The VC’s character is stained, remove him,” highlighting the depth of their discontent. The SJA initiated these protests after the WBNUJS General Council failed to provide a satisfactory response to their calls for the VC’s removal.
Amidst these demands, Chakrabarti has faced past accusations of sexual harassment, though he vehemently denies these charges, claiming the students are misinformed.
The students’ grievances extend beyond personal conduct, encompassing several critical areas. They argue that the Vice-Chancellor’s continued presence has tarnished the institution’s reputation, fostering a sense of insecurity among female students. Furthermore, faculty members reportedly harbor doubts regarding Chakrabarti’s leadership.
Chakrabarti, for his part, stated to reporters on Sunday, after the ‘gherao’ (encirclement) was lifted, that a recent Supreme Court judgment had dismissed a Prevention of Sexual Harassment (PoSH) complaint filed against him by a faculty member.
Despite this, the student spokesperson affirmed, “While we’ve paused direct physical protests for now, our other forms of dissent will persist until the authorities address our core concern: the Vice-Chancellor’s resignation.”
Allegations also include serious financial mismanagement and a glaring lack of transparency within the administration. “To our knowledge, WBNUJS is currently facing a significant financial deficit of ₹7 crore – a first in the university’s history,” the students’ association detailed in an official letter. “This is particularly perplexing when substantial funds are reportedly being allocated to research projects, yet students are struggling with basic amenities and waiting for reimbursements for competition expenses from the last four years.”
The letter further highlighted concerns about these research grants, totaling approximately ₹2.6 crore from various universities, stating, “The student body remains entirely unaware of the outcomes of these projects, as well as any student involvement in such initiatives.”