PMs panel to probe V-B charges

Updated on: Monday, November 16, 2009

Shantiniketan/Kolkata: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who is also the chancellor of Visva-Bharati will send a ‘fact-finding commission’ to Shantiniketan this week to probe the charges that have rocked the varsity for the past one month.

Though the university is yet to receive an official communique on this, economist Amlan Dutta, who is a former vice-chancellor of the university, will reportedly head the commission. The panel will get a month to complete its investigation and submit the report to the chancellor.

For nearly a fortnight in October, all work came to a standstill at the university with the Karmi Sabha (workers’ union) and the Adhyapak Sabha (teachers’ union) protesting the “excesses” of vice-chancellor Rajat Kanta Ray. It was alleged that he had claimed inflated medical and travel bills from the university. The V-C’s office had also complained against some members of the Karmi Sabha, who had stormed into his residence.

The commission has been asked to probe the charges against both sides. However, the fact that Dutta has been asked to head the commission did not find favour with the agitating parties. The strike was called off on November 4 after the chancellor assured the strikers that a probe would soon be ordered.

“We demanded an independent agency to investigate the charges and not a former V-C, who is known for his soft corner for the present management,” said Debabrata Sarkar, president of the Karmi Sabha.

Dutta was the V-C of the university from June 1980 to November 1984. He was also a member of the selection committee that chose Ray as the V-C. Apart from this, Dutta was also a key member of the committee headed by Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi, which recommended immediate changes that would help Visva Bharati become a centre of excellence. Interestingly, the Trinamool Congress to which the Karmi Sabha owes allegiance and the Congress to which the Adhyapak Sabha is affiliated, have both been dragged into controversy, with Pranab Mukherjee and Mamata Banerjee both promising a probe by an “independent agency”.

Dutta, however, did not seem to be interested in heading the panel. “I have not yet received any intimation either from the HRD ministry or UGC regarding my assignment as chairman in such a committee.” Asked whether he would accept the offer, he said: “I don’t think I will.”

Debabrata Sarkar, the president of Karmi Sabha, said: “We will oppose this probe because Dutta is close to the V-C. Such a committee is just a farce. We would instead depend on Mamata Banerjee to help us with the probe.”

The teachers’ association was not pleased either. Kishor Bhattacharya, president of Adhyapak Sabha, said: “We will talk to Pranab Mukherjee about this. He had assured us a probe. If Dutta’s appointment as the chairman of the committee is confirmed, we will have to re-discuss the matter.”

PMs panel to probe V-B charges

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