Jahanvi Agarwal
The Student Juridical Association at West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences (WBNUJS), Kolkata, has written to Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, urging him to address a sexual harassment complaint filed by a faculty member against Vice-Chancellor Prof. NK Chakrabarti.
This letter follows a recent Calcutta High Court directive wherein Calcutta High Court directed a committee to reevaluate the sexual harassment complaint filed by an Associate Professor of West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences (WBNUJS), Kolkata against the University’s Vice-Chancellor. Initially, the local committee had dismissed the complaint on the grounds of limitation. However, Justice Kaushik Chanda stated, “…The local committee, in deciding the issue of limitation, should accept the allegations made in the complaint at its face value. There is no occasion to examine the veracity of the allegations made in the complaint at the threshold stage…”
The student body condemned the Vice-Chancellor’s attempts to sidestep legal procedures. They stated, “We strongly condemn the presumption of falseness made regarding the Associate Professor’s complaints and deliberate attempts by the Vice-Chancellor to circumvent the appropriate legal procedure by abusing his position of power. These alleged actions constitute blatant patriarchal exploitation and an attempt to undermine the Associate Professor’s respect and dignity at her workplace.”
The letter highlighted violations of the NUJS Policy on Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal of Sexual Harassment, 2016, and the PoSH Act, 2013. It demanded several actions, including immediate steps to protect the teacher from further harassment, a thorough and unbiased investigation into the Vice-Chancellor’s conduct, and his immediate suspension from office.
Additionally, the letter called for preventing the VC from influencing any proceedings against him and recusing himself from related Executive Council meetings. It also sought the nullification of the EC’s decision discouraging the teacher from approaching the Chancellor and the dismissal of any retaliatory committees formed against the teacher.
The letter concluded with an urgent plea to the CJI, emphasizing the need to address the allegations and uphold a safe environment for all at NUJS. “…We humbly pray to your Hon’ble Lordship to take note of the allegations of sexual harassment and institutional marginalization and our just demands, which attempt to salvage not only the institutional reputation of NUJS but also the idea of a safe space for all students, victim-survivors, and those from vulnerable communities in our university,” it read.
The faculty member alleged repeated instances of sexual harassment by the Vice-Chancellor between September 2019 and December 2023, along with professional reprisals such as salary delays, denial of promotions, and threats after she resisted his advances.