Calcutta HC expresses dissatisfaction over sacking of prof by Visva Bharati University

Justice Chanda said in his order, “The learned advocate appearing for the university sought to justify the action of the university by arguing that the petitioner is under contractual employment."

Calcutta HC expresses dissatisfaction over sacking of prof by Visva Bharati University

While expressing dissatisfaction over the sacking of professor Sudipta Bhattacharya by Visva-Bharati University, the Calcutta High Court has ordered both parties, the University authorities and Bhattacharya.

“I must record my dissatisfaction with regard to the letter dated December 22, 2022, issued by the Registrar of Visva-Bharati as impugned in this writ petition. By the said letter, the Registrar of the University informed the petitioner that the Executive Council of the University had resolved to discontinue the service/contract of the petitioner in terms of its decision dated December 14, 2022. Prima facie, it appears that though the petitioner is a permanent ‘Adhyapak’, the University sought to throw him out by termination of his service following the decision of the Executive Council taken completely behind his back, levelling various stigmatic aspersions against him,” reads the order passed by single-bench of Justice Kausik Chanda.

Justice Chanda said in his order, “The learned advocate appearing for the university sought to justify the action of the university by arguing that the petitioner is under contractual employment. I am not satisfied with the submission. In my prima facie view, the petitioner (Bhattacharya) was a regular permanent employee, whose service could not be terminated without initiating a full-fledged disciplinary proceeding.”

“Let the affidavit-in-opposition be filed within seven days from date; reply thereto, if any, by the petitioner may be filed by two days thereafter,” he said, as reported by IndianExpress .

Listing the matter for further hearing on January 31, Justice Chanda ordered the university authorities “not to take any further steps against the petitioner following the impugned order”.

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