News Analysis India

Tag: Calcutta University

  • Calcutta University says all upcoming semester exams will be held offline

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: Calcutta University Friday announced all upcoming semester exams will be held offline, refusing to buckle to demands by a section of agitating undergraduate students who want online tests which were the norm during the two years when Covid-19 pandemic raged through the country.

    CU Vice-Chancellor Sonali Chakraborty Banerjee told PTI, the members of the highest decision making body of the institution, Syndicate “unanimously” decided to conduct the upcoming semester exams in offline mode.

    “Today Calcutta University Syndicate members unanimously accepted the recommendations of the members of all Faculty Councils, the chairpersons of all Undergraduate Boards of Studies and opinions of most of the Principals to conduct the upcoming even semester examinations in offline mode,” she said in an official statement.

    On the claims by students, that with in-person classes at campus having taken place only in past two months resulting in gaps in their tutorials, the VC said in her statement “Syndicate took the decision and also decided that all the Principals of affiliated colleges will be well- advised to take steps to arrange special classes to complete courses immediately according to the syllabi, if not already done.”

    After two panels of the university recommended holding the semester exams in both undergraduate and post-graduate levels on offline mode, the varsity sought the opinion of affiliated college principals on the issue and an overwhelming majority advocated for in-campus tests.

    Educationist Pabitrra Sarkar, indologist and academic Nrisinga Prasad Bhaduri and others described “online exams as no exam at all and said for the sake of their career, the students should give up the unjust demand.”

    “With dip in Covid cases and offline classes having begun, there is no reason why the higher educational institutions should give in to such unfair demands by a section of students,” Bhaduri said earlier.

  • After pointing out ‘mess’ at GTA, now Bengal Governor attacks Mamata over appointments of VCs of 24 universities

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar Thursday claimed that appointments of vice-chancellors of 24 universities in the state were made without his approval or in defiance of orders.

    Dhankhar is the ex-officio chancellor of the state-run universities, including Calcutta University, Jadavpur University and Presidency University.

    “VCs of 24 Universities appointed @MamataOfficial in disregard of law. These are ex facie in defiance of specific orders or without approval by Chancellor-the Appointing Authority,” the governor tweeted.

    “These appointments carry no legal sanction and would be forced to take action unless soon recalled,” he added.

    The warning comes close on the heels of chancellors and vice-chancellors of private universities not attending a meeting called by the governor earlier in the month at the Raj Bhawan here.

    Dhankhar is the visitor of private universities in the state.

    Claiming that the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) — an autonomous district council for Darjeeling and Kalimpong areas, was in a complete “mess”, Dhankhar on Wednesday sought updates about its operations from officials concerned.

    He also noted that GTA accounts have not been audited by CAG since its formation a decade ago.

    The governor, who is on a visit to Darjeeling, has asked the GTA administrator to personally update him about the council’s operations and way of functioning.

    He also sought an explanation in writing for “non-compliance of earlier directives”.

    “GTA @MamataOfficial in a mess. No CAG Audit for a decade since inception. No report to Governor #GTA functioning as per Section 55 (10) GTA Act, 2011,” Dhankhar tweeted.

    “Administrator #GTA directed to personally update and make available Reports under Section 55(10) of GTA Act by 30 December, 2021,” he said.

    Section 55 (10) of GTA Act, 2011 stipulates that the governor shall obtain a report on the functioning of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration and cause that report to be laid on the table of the Legislative Assembly annually.

    The governor, in a letter to the GTA administrator, a copy of which was attached with the Twitter message, said that a disturbing situation has arisen, pointing towards “serious dereliction of duty by the concerned” with no report being made available to him in spite of firm directives.

    He also said that on the last occasion, the secretary of GTA, under instructions of the then administrator, who was on leave, had called on him in Darjeeling.

    Maintaining that there has been no response to issues flagged for urgent intervention by the administrator, the governor stated that “a serious view of the same is taken at this end and for such acts of omission and commission appropriate steps will emanate.”

    Insisting that the sequence of events indicate a determined defiance of the administrator, Dhankhar said inputs received on his end allege that GTA has become a “den of corruption”, where funds have been wrongly utilised in the absence of audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General.

  • Calcutta University professor booked for allegedly threatening to kill CM Mamata Banerjee 

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: Case was lodged against a professor of the Calcutta University for allegedly threatening on social media to kill Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, police said on Saturday.

    The case was registered against Arindam Bhattacharya, a professor of the Zoology Department, by the Hare Street police station on the basis of a complaint filed by PhD scholar Tamal Dutta, a senior police officer said.

    Bhattacharya was booked under IPC sections 505 (1B) (with intent to cause, or which is likely to cause, fear or alarm to the public), 506 (threat be to cause death or grievous hurt) and 120B (punishment of criminal conspiracy), said Murlidhar Sharma, the joint commissioner of police (crime).

    The professor is yet to be taken into custody, police said.

    When contacted, Bhattacharya told PTI, “I didn’t make any comments against the chief minister. The complainant is a Trinamool Congress supporter. I am waiting for the police to take steps and only after that I will seek legal advice on this.”

    During a conversation on Facebook Messenger, a friend told the professor, “Before the elections you had written in a WhatApp group that you wanted to kill the chief minister. That time you went to the TMC leader’s house to save yourself…” In reply, he wrote in Bengali, “Akhono hatya korte chai…Pa chata kutta ami noi… Ami oshikkhito birodhi (I still want to kill..I am not a footlicking dog. I am against those who are illiterate).”

    Battacharya said it was a personal conversation between him and a friend which was made public on social media.

    “This conversation happened sometime back. I have not threatened the chief minister or anyone and it is clear in the message,” he said.

    Bhattacharya, a professor of Zoology for 17 years, said the police complaint was lodged against him as part of a conspiracy so that he loses his job.

    “I am scared and tormented. I feel helpless and insulted. Never dreamt of facing such humiliation in my life. I can sense that this is a conspiracy against me so that I eventually lose my job,” he said.

    Bhattacharya was served a notice to appear before the investigating officer on Saturday afternoon.

    “I have nothing to do. Let the police arrest me. Let there be another Ambikesh Mahapatra,” he said.

    In April 2012, Chemistry professor Ambikesh Mahapatra of Jadavpur University was arrested for allegedly forwarding a cartoon, lampooning the chief minister.

    The TMC-backed West Bengal College and University Professors Association condemned Bhattacharya’s comments. Dutta, who lodged the police complaint, told PTI that a professor cannot make such remarks.

    “I went through the comments and found them to be quite dangerous. A professor cannot make such comments. That is why I approached the police and after consulting them, I lodged a complaint with the Cyber Cell,” he said.

  • Calcutta University announces fee waiver for students of all postgraduate courses

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: The Calcutta University has waived fees for students of all postgraduate courses and two institute-run undergraduate programmes for the academic year 2021-22, taking into account the financial constraints families have been facing due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The institution, in a notification, also said that final-year students need not pay their outstanding dues to collect mark sheets.

    “This is for the information of all concerned that in view of the present pandemic situation, the university has waived off all fees like Admission fees, Tuition fees and Examination fees of the students (PG and University UG students) for the academic year 2021-2022 for different semesters.

    It is not required for the students to pay fees for collecting the Mark sheets/Grade sheets of different semester examinations,” said the notification undersigned by acting registrar Debasis Das.

    Talking to PTI, the vice chancellor of the 164-year-old varsity, Sonali Chakraborty Bandyopadhyay, said the decision was taken in the interest of students.

    “We want to be on their side.

    We wish to ensure their studies are not affected in any way due to the pandemic,” she asserted.

    Asked about other undergraduate courses, she said affiliated colleges are run by their own governing bodies and the university cannot take any such decision for them.

    “Only two undergraduate courses — B. Tech and Home Science — are directly run by the CU on its campus. Students who have enrolled for these courses would also get the fee waiver benefit,” she pointed out.

    Welcoming the move, the Students Federation of India (SFI) said the decision was preceded by its mail to VC, highlighting the financial plight of people amid the pandemic.

    “Over the past one-and-half years, many families have faced financial setbacks. This decision will be of some help to them,” the CPI(M) students’ wing added in its statement.

  • Calcutta University secures first place among Indian universities in ARWU ranking: Vice Chancellor

    By PTI
    KOLKATA: Calcutta University has secured first place among Indian universities and third position among top higher educational institutions in the country in the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) 2020, Vice Chancellor Sonali Chakraborty Banerjee said on Friday.

    The VC said the news of ranking, received recently, was a matter of pride for every stakeholder of CU and acknowledgement of its research activities across different fields which always got international acclaim.

    As many as 15 Indian universities have made it to the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) 2020, also known as Shanghai Ranking, released recently.

    As per the ARWU Ranking 2020 of top institutions in India, the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) was on the number one rank while the University of Calcutta was on the third spot among all premier higher educational institutions in the country.

    Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister described the news as a proud moment for the entire state.

    The CM tweeted: “Pleased to share that Calcutta University has been adjudged 1st among all Indian universities for merit & performance, as per the renowned Shanghai Ranking or Academic Ranking of World Universities 2020. CU has also ranked 3rd among all higher education institutes in India.”

    The chief minister said on the microblogging site, “It’s a proud moment for the whole state & I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all the teachers, researchers, students & everyone associated with the University of Calcutta for their earnest contribution and brilliant performance.”