Alleged Harassment by Students “Compels” Retired Judge to Step Down from Jadavpur University Admission Inquiry Panel

Retired High Court Judge Pranab Kumar Chattopadhyay on Tuesday resigned from his position as chairman of a committee tasked with investigating alleged irregularities in PhD admissions at Jadavpur University’s International Relations (IR) department. In his resignation letter, Justice Chattopadhyay cited “compelling circumstances” and claimed he had been subjected to intimidation and harassment by a group of students.

The committee was set up by the university after allegations surfaced regarding discrepancies in the admission process for the 2023-2025 PhD batch. However, tensions escalated on Monday when a group of students confronted the retired judge during a meeting, demanding an expedited and transparent inquiry. The incident, which Chattopadhyay described as harassment, ultimately led to his decision to step down.

In his resignation letter addressed to interim Vice-Chancellor Bhaskar Gupta, Chattopadhyay wrote: “In view of the repeated, unwanted, and harassing behavior of a section of students, and especially when the teachers present at the meeting refused to offer any help or support in alleviating the humiliating atmosphere, I am left with no other option but to tender my resignation from the position of Chairman of the Committee. Kindly treat this as my formal resignation under compelling circumstances.”

Justice Chattopadhyay, who had taken on the role as part of an honorary capacity, expressed dismay that the university had failed to provide a secure and supportive environment for his work. “It is impossible to conduct a fair and impartial inquiry under such conditions,” he stated. “I was simply doing my job, but the university failed to ensure my safety or provide the necessary support when I was harassed and abused by the students. I cannot work in such an environment, and I will not return to the campus.”

The alleged confrontation occurred when a group of students entered the meeting room, pressurising Justice Chattopadhyay to expedite the inquiry process. The students claimed that the university had apparently not provided them with the documents necessary to support the investigation. The students further emphasised the prolonged nature of the issue, claiming that delays had prompted their demand for a swift resolution.

Despite the university’s request for Chattopadhyay to reconsider his resignation, the retired judge remained resolute, criticising the university's lack of action in ensuring a safe and professional environment. “The Vice Chancellor may be accustomed to student protests and being ‘gheraoed’, but I won’t tolerate this kind of behaviour. I fail to understand how so many students became involved in what was supposed to be a neutral inquiry,” he said, adding that he felt "mistreated" by the university and its failure to ensure adequate security.

Justice Chattopadhyay also expressed disappointment that two other faculty members, including a former interim Vice-Chancellor, did not intervene during the confrontation. “They should have taken action to calm the students. Why was I the only one subjected to harassment?” he remarked. The university is yet to formally respond to the resignation. However, Partha Pratim Ray, secretary of the Jadavpur University Teachers' Association, condemned the incident, calling it “extremely unfortunate.”

“This is not the ethos of Jadavpur University. We strongly condemn any actions that intimidate or harass individuals conducting an inquiry. Such behavior only harms the reputation of our institution,” Ray said in a statement.

The protesting students have called for a transparent and accelerated investigation process, emphasising that the delays in addressing the alleged irregularities have already caused significant concern among the student body. But the resignation of Justice Chattopadhyay has brought the spotlight on the brazenness and alleged high handed behaviour of few University students, particularly belonging to union politics, that doesn’t even spare a retired Judge.
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