North Bengal University: Ready to face probe: VC- Strike stalls admit card distribution and viva voce

Siliguri,TT, Dec. 22: The vice-chancellor of North Bengal University today said he was open to an inquiry into the allegations of “administrative and financial irregularities” levelled by varsity employees against him.

Arunabha Basumajumdar expressed his readiness to face the probe against the backdrop of a strike that paralysed academic and administrative activities at the varsity today.

The strike was called by the North Bengal University Employees’ Association to protest against the extension of the VC’s tenure by three month from January 1.

“There have been allegations from different quarters that I had indulged in irregularities at the varsity. All that I would like to say is that I will welcome any number of inquiries by the state government against me if they feel it is necessary to probe the charges,” Basumajumdar told journalists.

This is the first time that the VC reacted to the charges after the association launched an agitation against him a few months ago.

On the strike, the VC said the employees were raising questions on the governor’s decision by opposing the extension of his term. “The governor who is the chancellor of the varsity has extended my tenure. By calling the strike, the employees are questioning the governor’s decision,” said Basumajumdar.

The association has been alleging that the VC had scuttled many decisions taken by the Executive Council with regard to the promotion and pay hike of the non-teaching staff. The employees also accused the VC of indulging in financial irregularities by spending money on litigation without the EC’s consent.

All administrative and academic departments remained closed during the daylong strike which the employees claim they had called after 22 years.

In the past few weeks, the employees staged dharnas and prevented the VC from attending his office .

“Although we have been agitating for 40 days, our demands have not been fulfilled. Instead, the VC has got an extension of the term. We protest the move because we are sure that as long as he is in charge, our demands will not be fulfilled,” said D.P. Boot, the secretary of the association.

“His continuation in office will lead to more irregularities. So our association was compelled to close down the varsity, a step we have not resorted to in the past 22 years.”

Viva voce and class seminars of PG students could not be held because of the strike. Twenty-one botany students were to have attended the viva, whose marks are added to the PG score. Twenty-nine students — nine from the history department and 10 pursuing microbiology — could not present the class seminars, whose marks are also added to the score.

The distribution of admit cards to 2,200 students who would appear for the NET was also stalled. The exam is scheduled for December 24.

Refresher course for 80 college and university teachers at the academic staff college could not be held either.

Basumajumdar said the employees’ salaries could not be hiked as a committee set up to look into the demand was yet to submit its report. Asked about the demand for jobs for the next of kin of those employees who die in harness, he said: “Several processes are involved in the appointment of the deceased employees’ relatives to various posts. The cases have to be referred to roster committee and standing committee. But nothing could be done as I have been unable to attend office.”