Jadavpur University asked to reappoint lecturer

KOLKATA: The West Bengal Council of Higher Education has sent a recommendation to Jadavpur University vice chancellor Souvik Bhattacharyya to consider the application of Babar Ali Shah for appointment of full-time professor in a suitable post. Earlier, the university had drawn flak from the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) in the case after a duly qualified Shah, a department of science and technology’s (DST) young scientist with a PhD degree from JU, was denied the lecturer’s post.
He had applied for the job twice. The post had gone to another , who did not have a PhD degree on the date of joining.
The NCM bench, after hearing Babar’s complaint and the university’s argument, had made some harsh remarks about the selection process. Without questioning JU’s authority, the bench held that “prima facie it is a clear case of favouritism and discrimination by JU”.
After assuming the role of vice chancellor of JU, Abhijeet Chakraborty, who is presently the vice-chairman (technical) in the state higher education council, had set up another committee to look into the complaint. Even they had submitted a report hinting at a favouritism. “We have sent a letter to the VC to nullify injustice and see if reappointment can be done. He will have to take up the matter with the concerned administrative bodies like the executive council and court,” said Chakraborty.