JU set to return to normalcy

Mou Chakraborty
Kolkata, April 13, 2007
Normalcy is set to return in Jadavpur University, after the non-teaching employees withdrew their indefinite strike on Thursday. The happened after university ordered an inquiry into the recent vandalism on campus, targeting the union office of the non-teaching employees.
Friday looks set to be a ‘normal’ day in JU, after the university authorities formed a one-man inquiry commission, after they had been advised to do so, by Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi, who is also the chancellor of the university.
The additional chief secretary and principal secretary of the higher education department, Ashok Mohan Chakraborty, has been given the responsibility by the university to investigate into the April 5 incident and find out who were responsible for the vandalism of the science club and non-teaching employees’ union office.
Justifying the university’s decision to give the responsibility to Chakraborty, registrar Rajat Bandhyopadhyay said, “The stress was on ensuring an impartial inquiry. So we had to choose someone who had no political bias, and had no direct link with the university. Even prominent alumni could have been accused of partiality. But, Chakraborty is a top-ranking IAS officer and non-political, so we think he is the best person for the job.” But, the time frame of the inquiry commission and other details have not been finalised yet.
The non-teaching employees’ union is happy with the decision. “What happened on the night of April 5 was no less than criminal. We want the culprits punished, and setting up an inquiry commission is the first step towards it. So we have decided to join work, but the university should a time frame to come out with the findings. Otherwise, we may decide to cease work again,” said Swapan Ghosh, vice president of the union.
The SFI was also looking forward to the findings of the inquiry. “The vandalism done on April 5 was un-student like. We know who the culprits are, but we would be happy if the inquiry commission unmasks them publicly. Breaking the non-teaching employees’ union room, burning their 50-year-old records, stealing Rs. 60,000 from their locker and sending it to Nandigram is no heroic deed. We want the culprits punished,” said Apurbo Chatterjee, state secretary of SFI.
However, the arts, science, and engineering students’ unions are unhappy about the university decision. The student representatives of the three streams will meet Gandhi on Friday, to express their dissatisfaction, and also tell their side of the story. “It is highly undemocratic. A one-man inquiry commission would result in the incident being judged through the eyes of one person only. We wanted the representation of every party in it and had also conveyed it to our vice chancellor,” said Amit Chakraborty, spokesperson of the three unions.
mou.hindustantimes@yahoo.com