CU professor show-caused

Mou Chakraborty
Kolkata, August 2, 2007
For the first time in the history of Calcutta University (CU), a professor has been show-caused for tampering with the attendance of students.
The syndicate of CU arrived at this decision on Wednesday. The head of the university’s philosophy department, Dilip Mohanto, has been found guilty of tampering with the students’ attendance and the university syndicate had asked him to resign from his post and give up his position as the convener of the PhD programme and other important posts he holds. The university also cancelled the professor’s sabbatical leave and show-caused him.
“He has been found guilty of tampering with the students’ attendance and the syndicate has decided to take disciplinary action against him,” said Samir Bandhyopadhyay, registrar of CU. The university has sent the show cause letter to him on Thursday.
About 50 first-year and second-year students of the MA programme were barred from taking the exam because it was found that they did not have the required attendance. The students lodged a complaint with the university, based on which a one-man inquiry was ordered and the exam was postponed. After the inquiry report was tabled, the syndicate decided on June 26, to conduct a 3-person inquiry commission to investigate further into the matter.
The CU science secretary Shyamal Sarkar was the convener of the committee, while the other two members were Prof Shyamapada Pal and the dean of law, Prof I Ahmed. The committee tabled their report on Wednesday and it says that Mohanto has neither denied nor confirmed his involvement with attendance tampering. But, the report has pointed out his involvement as well his connivance in the case. It has also found that Mohanto had a high-handed attitude over his students and colleagues alike. The report was of the opinion that Mohanto has “not kept the prestige associated with his office.”
The accused professor had joined as a reader almost a decade ago and had held the post of professor for the last 3 years. “The head of the department should be above others, including equals, but he has not maintained transparency in his activities and has been undemocratic,” said Arun Kumar Banerjee, dean of postgraduate studies (arts) of CU.
The 3-man inquiry report has been termed as one of the finest investigations done by university in recent times. It has signatures from all the people concerned and has 12 disclosures, which give proof of his autocracy and tampering with the attendance of students. Questions are now being raised, as to why he had tampered with the attendance records that have endangered the future of so many students by trying to stop them from taking their exams. “The show-cause has been done based on the inquiry report and the university has asked him to reply,” said Bandhyopadhyay.
mou.hindustantimes@yahoo.com