NCST sends another notice to Visva-Bharati varsity authorities over professor appointment

Kolkata: The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) has sent another notice to Visva-Bharati University (VBU) authorities, seeking a response regarding allegations of irregularities in the appointment of an ST candidate as an Associate Professor in the varsity’s Bengali Department.

A report had been sought from the VBU Vice-Chancellor on the issue in February this year. As the university did not respond, the NCST has once again sent another notice to the university authorities, a government official said on Sunday.

This time, the commission has sought a detailed report from the Vice-Chancellor, Dr Probir Kumar Ghosh. The VBU has been ordered to submit all the information related to the complaint and a report on the action taken within seven days.

In its notice, the commission clearly stated that if a response is not received within the stipulated time, the university authorities may be summoned by exercising the powers granted by the Constitution.

Kalyani University Associate Professor Tushar Patua had filed a written complaint with the commission in January, alleging that there were several irregularities in the recruitment process for the post of Associate Professor (ST) in the Bengali Department and that eligible candidates were excluded from the interview. The commission started an investigation based on the complaint.

Patua has claimed that the university’s silence has further raised questions about the recruitment process.

In January, there was a controversy over the published preliminary list after the interviews for the posts of Assistant and Associate Professor in the Bengali Department were postponed. Several candidates questioned the selection criteria and the reasons for their exclusion. Although the interview process was completed in May, there was a controversy over the appointment of the Associate Professor (ST). Now, the attention of the concerned circles is on Visva-Bharati’s response and the next steps of the NCST.

There was no official response from the Visva-Bharati authorities in this regard.

IANS