NUJS Kolkata’s executive council (EC) has confirmed KIIT School of Law Bhubaneswar director, Prof NK Chakrabarti, as its next vice chancellor.
As we had first reported on 7 June, his name had been the formal choice of the university’s chancellor and Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi.
Speaking to Chakrabarti today, he confirmed that the EC had passed his appointment, and said he hoped to be able to join NUJS within a week after submitting his resignation to KIIT.
While he had to rush into a meeting, he added that he had many things to say and plans for NUJS, and would comment further in due course.
His confirmation will hopefully provide some much needed stability in NUJS, which has been without a regular VC for more than 15 months after previous VC Prof Ishwara Bhat left after student protests. Bhat had been was replaced with government appointee and former judge Amit Talukdar as interim VC, as the search process for a new VC faced repeated delays.
Update 18:30: The EC resolution from today states:
It is resolved that in view of the letter of Hon’ble Chancellor, Prof Nirmal Kanti Chakrabarti, Director, School of Law, KIIT University, Bhubaneshwar, Odisha is hereby appointed as the Vice Chancellor of this University for the period of five years from the date he assumes office.
The outgoing Vice Chancellor (Acting) is authorized to issue the appointment letter to Prof Nirmal Kanti Chakrabarti providing him 15 days time from the date of receipt of the appointment letter to join the post as per usual terms and conditions in conformity with the relevant Acts and rules. The appointment letter be issued on the next working day.
On the joining of the new Vice Chancellor, Justice Amit Talukdar shall handover charge to the new Vice Chancellor and shall stand relieved from his duties.
The Executive Council members records deep appreciation for the support and services rendered by Hon’ble Justice Amit Talukdar as Acting Vice Chancellor.
Domicile quotas off the cards for this year
Furthermore, we understand from an authoritative campus source that the NUJS EC has also decided to shelve the controversial 30% domicile quota floated by the West Bengal government, would not be implemented this academic year.
The reasoning is understood to have included that since the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) results and first lists were already out, it would risk legal challenges to implement the change at such time.
Yesterday, we had published an article by former NUJS student association president Arjun Agarwal, arguing against hasty implementation of domicile quotas.
Comments
https://www.telegraphindia.com/states/west-bengal/private-tuition-slap-for-two-university-teachers/cid/1119477
Only thing worth knowing more is whether justice league will manage to install a registrar of their choice to slow down NKC
[b]Is Mamata losing the plot? From doctors' strike to ‘cut money’ debacle, Didi is plunging into crisis
[/b]
https://www.dailyo.in/politics/mamata-banerjee-tmc-bjp-in-bengal-syndicate-minority-appeasement/story/1/31296.html
[b]A sign of hope — Bengali Muslims are finally protesting Mamata’s appeasement politics
[/b]
https://theprint.in/opinion/sign-of-hope-bengali-muslims-are-finally-protesting-mamatas-appeasement-politics/256041/
The BJP will not sacrifice Dilip Ghosh's LS seat to send him to the state Assembly, risking a bypoll. They will keep him in Delhi. On the other hand, Swapan Dasgupta is a nominated RS MP and can be replaced easily.
Also there is no risk in the Medinipur seat.
Its a safe seat for the BJP. Even Yogi Adityanath was sent from the Parliament back to to be the CM of UP.
I'm not suggesting any motivations to any of these parties or leaders; to them NLS is just like IIM - something they're happy to show up for (eg. Convocation) because they get to hang around with SC judges, President, Vice President etc., and can talk about country's best institutions in Karnataka. The whole reason the quota issue even came up was a hail mary attempt by the then Higher Ed Minister Rayareddy who was facing a tough shot at reelection, and needed to show that he did something (just to project to his constituents). Much like leaders themselves, his constituents in Koppal really didn't care about NLS (if they even knew what it was), and he lost anyway. The only political angle was that most leaders couldn't be seen to be opposing the quota because they'd be painted as "anti-Karnataka", especially in the climate at the time where Siddaramiah was pushing a Kannada pride agenda (see also, Bangalore Metro language controversy).So they all sat by while the bill sailed through.
What I do know about the Law School response at the time, was that the SBA put out a strong statement (for whatever it's worth), mobilised alumni (especially children of prominent public figures, incl. Senior Advocates, SC Judges etc) and had informal discussions. The Registrar himself actively opposed the policy and held parleys with the state govt and the Governor. Fortunately, the Governor returned the bill and the state govt referred the matter to the AG. This much, I'm sure of. This is the most recent development. And then the 2018 elections happened, with the new CM who frankly has bigger problems to deal with in the coalition and MLA-poaching by the BJP than this.
As to this story about the RVR writing to GoK, this is the first I'm hearing of it. I would have taken it with not more than some scepticism had it not been for the blatant errors in it (which seemingly were there to establish credibility, but had some oversight like which CM was the one who actually introduced the bill). So, now I'm very suspicious of that entire post, which by the way is being pasted across various comment threads on LI (as frequent readers would no doubt have noticed).
@kian, maybe you could throw some light on what the actual status is?
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[img]https://memegenerator.net/img/instances/81104601/thanks-for-that-now-theres-barfin-my-mouth.jpg[/img]
Unhappy? Tough luck. Move on.
1. Oppose domicile quota.
2. Improve hostel infrastructure.
3. Start fundraising from corporates, lawyers, firms and alumni. Rename auditorium, library lecture theatres, research centres and hostels after individuals and firms, in exchange for donations.
4. Improve website and publicise achievements. Outsource website updates to SJA.
5. Get alumni and others to teach short courses.
6. Get funded professor chairs.
7. Tie ups and exchanges with foreign universities.
8. Tie up with IIM Calcutta and IIFT Calcutta campus.
9. Establish a strong presence on YouTube and social media.
10. Institute an inquiry against particular professor under the UGC Plagiarism Rules. Dismiss from service if found guilty (which he will be).
Arjun, bull's eye again. Don't stop pushing. Keep inspiring.
Somebody had wisely pointed out that no one knew Faizan when he came to NLUO from KIIT and he remained a "nobody" when he went to NALSAR soon thereafter. Now he is a "somebody" who lobbied for SS Singh in CNLU and defends PJ of Patiala....and yet he is credited with "wonders" in NALSAR. But little birds tell a different story concerning who is really driving NALSAR and if true (very much so), then someone is Accidental VC
NKC [...] Isn't a celebrity academic; celebrated academic-activist etc. Maybe I would have preferred someone "cooler". But do we have anything solid to show that he is incapable of doing the quiet and laborious work of turning NUJS around?
Many VCs get undeserved bells and whistles through mutual admiration societies. But some prefer to do the quiet work. If NKC is the latter, we should give him a chance. In the last few years and especially after PIB eviction, academics know not to mess around with SJA/Noojies. Other honchos know that as well.
Faulty, when will you learn? Are really asking for it?
1. NIJS established on 1999 whereas CLAT commenced from 2008. First few years majority students were domiciles . They built the reputation of the institute. Stidents from outside the state started joining once it is already reputed.
2. Jadavpur University has 90% domicile quota. It did not stop it becoming one of the best university in the country . Placement is one of the best in the country. Highest salary offerred there this year is 41 lakhs. Domicile quota did not prevent that
3. 30% state quota is ratiknal and reasonanle. Out side WB students are most welvome in NUJS. But remember that you are student knly and not the policy maker. Tomorrow you may ask the right to decide CM of WB, but that does not mean that you will get it.
4. Come in NUJS , study here, built your career and leave. Dont try to be too smart. If you feel institute list its quality, please select another NLU and improve the quality there. You are most welcome
5. Ask other NLUs to abolish quota first. NUJS here is only follower not the leader or first to introduce the quota
NLSIU does not have a domicile quota. NUJS aspires to be like NLSIU, not HNLU. JU did not have domicile quota all along and the new imposition of domicile quota will lower its standards and remove it from the IOE shortlist.
You and other bootlickers of the regime are finished, as your Hitler Didi is on her way out in 2021.
I am pretty sure about the [...] source given the glaring errors in the reporting. Seriously when will the journos learn to do some fact-checks and ground-truthing? Rather particular playing suck up to someone he was most recently crusading and lobbying against?
A new game of sucking up begins.
It seems he has a granddaughter who studies abroad, so hopefully he will be open to collaborations with universities abroad.
Also, the fact that he uses Facebook makes him a bit more modern than stone-age Bhat.
1) Intense lobbying just like NLSIU did.
2) Get the VC and EC to reject it like NLSIU.
3) Challenge it on court if Mamata forces it, on the ground that the EC and Chancellor were not consulted.
4) Get Gogoi and brother judges to oppose it.
It appears that your legal acumen is matched only by your lack of common sense - probably you are a student of the rather particular school of thought. Let me respond to your suggestions point by point :
1. its too late to do that. NLSIU alumni (which in any case is far more organised than NUJS) lobbied as soon as the legislation was made - but before it was notified. In this case, the legislation has already been notified - so its too late in the day to do anything about it. The only real option is to get the legislature to once again amend the statute to delete the provisions relating to domicile quota. Its hard to get any political party to do that - its too popular a measure for them to roll back.
2. the VC and the EC are not above the legislature to "reject" an enactment. they are bound by it. try learning a little bit of constitutional law ( or much less, apply lots of common sense - if you have any of it)
3. the legislature is not bound to consult the EC, the chancellor or for that matter anyone on the planet while it makes a law of this sort. May be as a matter of policy they ought to - but definitely not as a matter of legal obligation. Again see the last line of my previous comment.
4. again too late in the day for that (and of no legal significance)
I urge the students to please invite him for a talk on "The Destruction of Education and Quota Politics by Mamata Banerjee".
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7gq7gsNiAU[/youtube]
https://barandbench.com/nirmal-kanti-chakrabarti-new-vice-chancellor-nujs/
But Prof Vivekanandan was appointed a professor earlier, served as MHRD IP Chair at NALSAR and served as Dean of the IIT Law School. These universities are a lot more reputed than Hooghly Mohsin College, Calcutta University and KIIT, where Chakrabarty has taught.
Furthermore, Prof Vivekanandan has a PhD from NLSIU while Chakrabarty has a PhD from Burdwan University (according to Bar & Bench). There is just no comparison!!
Then, Chakrabarty claims to have published 50 "research articles", but where are the citations??? I CHALLENGE him to release the list.
Also, he has told Bar & Bench he is the first Bengali to be appointed to the post. Why this needless regionalist statement???
I am SHOCKED AND APPALLED that the students have not opposed this blatantly political appointment by TMC and the overlooking of a candidate who is so much more qualified. Please rectify the mistake before Prof Vivekanandan heads to NLUD and you lose a good VC.
[img]https://epaper.telegraphindia.com//epaperimages/30062019/30062019-md-hr-12/16522227.jpg[/img]
They will come back harder next year. Pressure will be on NKC to bury the inquiries as they did with Justice PN Sinha Inquiry Report. They need key elements of both JL/IL (need to think new names with Lord Taluk departing) to get their "stuff" done.
The NUJS amendments maybe political grandstanding to some but to Lord Taluk's friends these are tools to make political personal (business) while the CM keeps professing return of cm.
The political apparatchiks in the EC (apparatchiks being the operative word) want to have new (and some old) "committed" Faulty and administrative staffs. This may explain why the issue of DEO over payments is batted down and the Registrar is keen to rush an FC. Keep the glaring of fat cats well fed while sharpening the long knives for the students.
Many of us think that these inquiries are meaningless, past is past etc. But that's how history keep repeating itself and mistakes as well. The inquiries are our best chance to clean up (to the extent possible) the faculty recruitment process because every VC (celebrated or not) will want acolytes. Favours to have to be returned and traded.
Unless we remain alert expect faculty recruitment to be manipulated; inquiries diluted and stretched out, so that the trail goes cold; leaky tenders and contracts with plentiful scope for cost overruns and crazy financing; reset in admission standards and quotas (including NRI) so that seats can be trafficked.
Conspiracy theories? Think again. Many Reds after 34 years found the grass to be greener on the other side and watermelons that sprouted crazy are suddenly becoming oranges. 50 years ago all of these things would have sounded crazy. And a family couldn't have been trounced so roundly and repeatedly.
i dont know why he was kept under suspension for so long - delay in completing the disciplinary proceedings is a very common reason all around the country. that there was a delay per se does not mean much for determination of punishment. they could have (and should have) completed the proceedings earlier.
On a less serious note, it appears that calling a person "rather particular school of thought follower" is a evolving insult or swear word
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/education/news/st-xaviers-law-school-gets-nod-from-bar-council-of-india/articleshow/70027827.cms
Also, both St Xavier's school and the college have impressive alumni and can leverage those connections to seek funding (e.g. Shashi Tharoor, Kaushik Basu, Sourav Ganguly, LN Mittal, Aditya Birla, RP Goenka, Derek O Brien etc).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Xavier%27s_Collegiate_School
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Xavier%27s_College,_Kolkata
1. The SH victim had made repeated verbal complaints before PIB. But for one full year he tried to bat things down. The offender was verbally cautioned several times by PIB but he could care less because....
2. Receiving no respite, the SH victim sent a written complaint to the university. The offender was sent on leave. Thereafter he started playing truant while continuing to threaten the victim directly and indirectly. The victim then filed an FIR. The university sensing trouble suspended the offender and PIB put him on subsistence allowance.
3. The university sent the complaint to the ICC, which was then led by RG. PIB would make frequent changes but RG and AM (as expected) remained constant. Till RG got publicly reported as being sympathetic to offender and attempting back channel rapprochement on behalf of the offender. RG also made some strenuous interpretations of the reported SH instances and a public exposure of those caused RG to resign. AM was asked to stay on and a new ICC Chair was appointed. ANPGhost. The ICC was also expanded.
4. While all this was going on, the offender kept playing truant. At some point his anticipatory bail plea was rejected by the Calcutta High Court; the Bidhannagar Police arrested him in late Dec 2013; and after some initial SC rejections, he finally got out on bail.
5. The expanded ICC crew submitted their report in early 2014 which confirmed SH. The majority felt that specific disciplinary action was best decided by the university, which neither had a service rule nor SH policy in place. The minority strongly recommended immediate termination.
6. The EC LET PIB take a call on this matter. Previously too it had outsourced the issue of subsistence allowance and hikes to PIB. And so PIB formed the holy trinity committee - himself (Top class God), Supreme God (lurks in library) and CPC/CrPC God. The trinity faithfully adopted the arguments made by the offender to increase subsistence allowance from 50% to 100% in quick jumps and without due non-engagement certification.
7. PIB & Co let the offender enjoy the allowances without even checking whether he was working elsewhere. Only recently did the EC compel a reluctant Registrar (Acting) to demand those non-engagement certifications. And we know how those can be procured for consideration.
8. But to go back to what PIB recommended to the EC concerning disciplinary action was this - the offender was to be kept on suspension, on subsistence allowance (with very timely and generous hikes) till the conclusion of the criminal case that was initiated by the victim. Sounds familiar? This trick was also used in the Surajit Mukhopadhyay matter as well till the the Calcutta HC instituted Justice (Retd) PN Sinha Inquiry Report ensured his termination.
9. Know what? The EC that gave PIB a free hand on this SH matter also had Lord Taluk then as a state nominee. I don't know why the EC didn't ask PIB to provide further details on the actual nature of the case; whether the university was even a party to it; whether there was any stay order or direction from the court not to terminate the offender's employment etc?
10. The criminal prosecution was launched by the victim. The offender has not provided any evidence that the university is a party to the case. The offender has not secured any stay order etc against the university. But SH was clearly established by the ICC and it was accepted by the university and EC. And yet PIB & Co decided to keep the offender generously funded till the game of dates plays out in the court.
11. Maybe PIB and EC should have requested the victim on the progress of the case. And demanded answers in writing with supporting paperwork. I don't know if Lord Taluk did that now. He should have, especially if this sexual and financial profligacy vitally hinges on the "case" that the victim launched.
12. While not victim-blaming there is no record of the victim petitioning PIB or EC against subsistence allowance being paid without due non-engagement certifications or even challenging the ICC report for not recommending stricter punishment. Some commentators here hint that the victim did not show intent in her pursuit of justice. Maybe they think that in all this time the NUJS SH victim could have done something like this https://www.telegraphindia.com/states/west-bengal/teacher-moves-womens-panel-for-sexual-harassment-by-colleague/cid/1693399
13. That said, I am not interested in a moral crusade or salacious gossip concerning out-of-court settlements etc. It is interesting how this matter resurfaced now. I am reliably told that the SJA came to know that the offender since his suspension has been paid approximately Rs 50 lacs till date. The SJA took this up with Lord Taluk and forced him to raise this issue in the FC/EC. The SJA contended that the offender cannot be paid indefinitely and there were gaps in how PIB kept the EC (mis)informed.
14. The SJA needs to be lauded for raising hell. I don't want a glaring of fat cats bankrolled on student fees. Now that the offender has been fired, the recommendations of the holy trinity needs to be reviewed (at least two Gods are still around); and those responsible for checking non-engagement certifications and ground-truthing will need be hauled up as well. Most certainly explore options to claw back monies from the offender or his pals in the university. That includes PIB and his handpicked Registrars (Acting).
Coming back to Inquiry Report that Kian missed. Recall that in April 2018, the EC having heard the live testimony (facilitated by SJA) of administrative harassment faced by an alumna under PIB, SAK, RG and AR Acad directed the AC to take up the matter. Despite the attempt by SAK (PIB had resigned by then) and AR Acad to distort the actual sequence of unfortunate events and mislead the AC, the SJA intervention then ensured that the AC had enough evidence to direct an inquiry. After many twists and turns and continuous SJA pressure, the inquiry was completed.
The inquiry found RG and AR Acad guilty of dereliction of duty and gross negligence which nearly jeopardized the career of the concerned alumna. The report also underlined that those in supervisory positions (aka PIB and SAK) should have taken immediate steps for swifter resolution and not cause the administrative harassment to continue so long.
The EC has accepted the findings of the Report and has authorized the VC to take appropriate steps against the guilty. Earlier when a cheeky incident took place involving a [...] faculty member, that faculty was basically given a slap on her wrists. That favour was returned to the then Registrar in a [...] gesture (read Justice PN Sinha Report).
The SJA should therefore remain alert to favour traffic. It must ensure that the guilty are suitably punished this time.
Kian please get better sources and report on the SH and this issue as well. Had the SJA not persevered both these issues would have been quietly kept buried by Lord Taluk & Co
Thanks to Registrar (Acting) the concerned Faulty members continue to be provided shelter and Lord Taluk too didn't want to ruffle feathers either because the corruption trail touches his friends as well. Hence the inquiries not going anywhere.
Some more writs have been filed in the last few weeks against NUJS by aggrieved distance education students. A big reason why this issue has been a drag is because Lord Taluk was reluctant to take decisions. He wouldn't communicate to the aggrieved students nor ensure that AM as the SDME Director did. The Registrar (Acting) had chosen a side in the JL-IL feud and provided shelter accordingly. The EC wanted Lord Taluk & Co to take action but the latter wouldn't and so the best thing to do was to lob the ball to the HC.
Lord Taluk learnt this tactic from PIB who had successfully used it to keep Registrar appointment/PN Sinha report; and the SH matter involving AR Admin, in the limbo.
But this time Delhi and Calcutta HCs had enough. The university lawyers knew that their good times risked getting sour. So the message was very clearly delivered. EC responded by agreeing to refund its share amounting to 30-40% depending on the courses which had private partners; and 100% for the courses that it ran on its own.
The aggrieved students will want 100% refund. Which means that either it will be taken out of the share of the private partners or from the fees that we pay. And that's where the SJA comes in (again, much to Faulty disappointment). The SJA has told Lord Taluk clearly (but it will need to reiterate even more clearly now) that our fees cannot be used for refunds nor can govt grants etc be used unless there is written permission from the government.
Crores have been taken out from our fees to over pay DEOs and other admin staff. Our fees were used to cover the big financial holes made by a former Registrar and the crores lost were never recovered by PIB and Lord Taluk (pray why?). That caused the university to refund Rs 2.85 crores to UGC and it has found further faults in the utilization certificates presented by the university.
Now that the refunds will begin, SJA needs to be very alert. Maybe even real time tracking of the accounts section because they will touch our fees. The concerned Faulty would have preferred "business-as-usual" but we now have a better idea what was really happening. What is really making the Faulty nervous is a certain demand from SJA - recover the refunds from the Faulty who shepherded the courses with private partners and most importantly who had the responsibility to supervise these deals but instead misled the AC. And there is evidence that they knew and had assured the AC that UGC permissions will be taken.
By the way, yet another EC came and went. Distance education got discussed and decisions taken. But nothing from private partners who cried foul? Yes the PA system can be quite a filter. But there is always the EC members and even the Chancellor's office. Methinks, they know all these pathways. But they also know what they did. Hence the combination of silence and obfuscation.
Sometimes we have to go the distance to uproot the mess, root and stem. Heads will roll. And it doesn't matter where the exposure is published https://www.thestatesman.com/supplements/law/distance-education-mess-1502764247.html
https://twitter.com/law_ninja/status/1146079600713199617
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/10-quota-for-poor-in-bengal-total-over-50/articleshow/70049135.cms
[...]
Download before it disappears. Now we know what all went down in this EC.
Kian why are you not doing a story on the significant decisions concerning SH, RG and distance education? Are we to assume true some of the commentary made here on these topics?
I do not mean disrespect and the word Ninja has moved away from its disreputable origins. But check it anyway https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ninja#Foreign_ninja
None of the advertising takes away the fact that distance education courses were started and continued illegally by NUJS in partnership with Law Ninja. And both parties knew about it. Yes, the courses may have been better designed than what many Faulty teach here. It likely helped many in upgrading and honing their practical skills. And it may not have mattered to the oft-repeated 3000 students or so whether they got a UGC recognized certificate or not or that they wouldn't take a govt job etc.
The courses were started and continued illegally. I am not interested in apportioning the blame to Law Ninja. I am more interested to know what actions will NKC take against the Faulty who had the fiduciary duty to supervise regulatory compliance and to act in the best interests of the university?? Repeatedly they assured the AC that UGC approvals will be secured. At no point did they say that it was optional. These Faulty cannot claim that they did not know. Their colleagues cautioned them in writing, questioned them in AC etc.
Whatever financial losses the university will now suffer for making the refunds (which Lord Taluk dragged out) and the litigation fees should be recovered from the concerned Faulty before they are fired. Will NKC do that?
[...]
Regarding the alumni teaching proposal, obviously the easiest thing to do is reach out to NLU alumni working in Kolkata. Apart from NUJS, there are enough alumni from NLSIU, NALSAR, GNLU etc.
Respected Sir, we request you to withdraw your resignation and continue at NUJS. The college has lost many good teachers to other NLUD, NALSAR, JGLS etc. It would be a tragedy if you also leave, especially as we need professors with experience in your subjects . You may be strict sometimes, but you do it to enforce discipline and you are undoubtedly regarded as the best teacher by 99% of the students. Sir, please try and reconsider. Students are willing to give a petition. There is a new VC and we can make a new beginning.
http://sja.nujs.edu/newsroom/2019/07/03/statement-of-solidarity-2
Be that as it may, I do agree that EC/AC/FC must share some responsibility for giving a free pass to PIB administration. Taluk of course beautifully played the role of a night watchman for the state, which may have its own reasons for having gone soft on PIB & Co thus far.
Assuming that someone has read the relevant minutes properly, there have been repeated mentions of distance edu course approvals being contingent on UGC approvals or the assurance by PIB that permissions will come through. Another point to be noted is how were the AC/EC agendas discussed? Were the relevant papers made available? How was the topic discussed? Did PIB pull his rank/authority to close off certain discussions? Did certain EC/AC members dissent but the minutes conveniently edit those out?
Here is how I see things will likely go. The university will have to admit to the courts, directly or indirectly that there was a colossal f**k up and therefore it will refund etc. Once that chapter closes there, NKC will be under pressure to let matters rest here. And it is likely that he will do that due to his IL links, which will be terrible. Chernobyl will happen eventually. In a sense we are already in it.
However, should NKC facing counter pressure were to instead take action on an inquiry conducted transparently and objectively, then heads will roll. Yes, it will be chaotic. But this creative destruction is necessary for NUJS to arrest its descent.
It is for the university and its governors to apportion the blame. That shouldn't paralyze them from acting on the evidence of wrongdoing and institutional cover-up. Time's up.
2. It is only an allegation that online courses are illegal, its not a foregone conclusion. iPleaders has put out a statement on legallyindia explaining why courses are not illegal. While NUJS EC has stated that courses were illegal, has it heard evidence from both sides or just relied on Arjun Agarwals mooting level research to brand these illegal? As per my knowledge dozens of online courses were running at the time and nobody, not even UGC has ever branded any online course illegal. Perhaps that is why EC and AC approved all the courses as we can see from minutes? Before declaring online courses as illegal, at least let the courts decide they were illegal. So far no court has reached that conlusion. Why is that?
I do not think you can reach any conclusion in this matter. Its going to be fought much longer.
Maybe there is hope that a complaint against rather particular forms of plagiarism will now be taken up by NKC. After all he has some idea that the charge is not actually without merit.
[b] Video of Mohua Moitra showing middle-finger to Arnab Goswami goes viral
[/b]
https://www.siasat.com/news/video-mohua-moitra-showing-middle-finger-arnab-goswami-goes-viral-1531292/
[b] MC Leader Mahua Moitra assaults lady constable at Silchar Airport
[/b]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfJR0lzIwCA
Who's in favour of blocking all hyperbolic politics related comments on LI in future?
And Kian, if you are censoring negative comments about individuals for lack of evidence etc., why allow positive and hyperbolic comments without evidence either? That would give the people a completely false impression of the individual.
[/b]
https://www.firstpost.com/india/west-bengal-assembly-passes-law-raising-retirement-age-of-state-aided-universities-vice-chancellors-from-65-to-70-years-6931031.html
Isn't it interesting that NKC turns 65 this year?
1. What is happening in NUJS is directly linked with the political situation in Bengal. The domicile quota is linked to Mamata Banerjee's desperate attempts at creating a split between Bengalis and "outsiders" following her election setback.
2. The VC of CU (also on the NUJS EC) is widely seen as a TMC stooge and controversially gave an honorary PhD to Mamata. This was hugely criticised in Bengal.
3. The Advocate General (also on the EC) is a similarly controversial person. There were three very eminent Advocate Generals appointed by Mamata before him (all Senior Advocates and English barristers who are among the Cal HC's top lawyers). They all resigned because they refused to compromise with professional ethics (the last one being Mr Jayanta Mitra, who lashed out at the Mamata government and said they were asking him to do unethical things). The new AG is a little known lawyer with links to the TMC. The SJA has lambasted him in several emails.
4. The law minister is forcing NUJS to make political appointments and open a campus in his constituency.
5. Lastly, if Mamata (hopefully) loses the assembly election, there will be major implications for NUJS. The following will happen:
a) A return to the tradition of appointing eminent lawyers as Advocate General.
b) A new law minister
c) Ouster of the CU VC
d) An educated, bhadralok CM with an academic background (Swapan Dasgupta)
e) Possibly, an influential role for three lawyers originally from Bengal who are close to the Modi government: Vikramjit Banerjee (a former NUJS assistant professor himself), Som Mandal and Madhavi Divan. Som Mandal is a vocal critic of Mamata and tweets against her everyday. https://twitter.com/sommandaloffice
NKC as VC was a foregone conclusion. Will be interesting to see if the other predictions concerning him come true.
The termination of the previous AR admin is almost certain to be challenged before a court of law, where it would in all probability get a stay order. Which is why EC hasn't actually directed advertising for that position yet, which it should have the moment it is sacking somebody.
The refund would be a whole hornet's nest altogether, since the university isn't liable to pay only its own share of revenue from the ipleaders course, but the whole of it, since ipleaders never took money from the students, NUJS did. In either case, its the university's fault for recognising the courses without proper UGC approval, so no external service provider can be held responsible for it. Just to add to this, it might also mean that NUJS is now legally bound to return every certificate it has ever issued for courses other than regular ones, from 2000 onward. Or else refund all that fees. Which would run into more than 10-15 crores and bankrupt the university. Nobody in the EC apparently thought of that at all.
This is fiction concocted by injustice league to pacify SJA. It is unlikely to play out this way. Before proceeding down this road any further the SJA should seek some legal advice from eminent lawyers in Kolkata which may want to help the University.
It is definitely concerning that if these courses are illegal then so were all other distance courses run by NUJS starting from 2000, and how many certificates do we have to recall and how much money do we have to refund?
While MPS flagged off certain distance education courses, the real push came from PIB. So we don't need to go back to 2000. For clarification we can ask the OtherSen on campus. Why so silent, having lighted the spark?
Lord Taluk who could have settled this distance education mess may months ago but for unstated reasons he let the matter fester. Old habits die hard. Lord Taluk was in the EC when the SH offender was generously kept on suspension and the SCM matter (still in the court) was dragged out. Lord Taluk was also in the EC and authored a ludicrous opinion (against a well-written opinion by Justice Shyamal Sen) to save rather particular academic and his amigos.
The distance education students prefer to get the refunds. And they will eventually get 100% despite the university volunteering to pay its share of 30-40% as the case maybe. Distance edu students who graduated with due certificates of completion are unlikely to approach the university or courts for refund. It will be a different matter if the university were to announce that all certificates given till date stand cancelled.
But that will only happen if the courts were to wade deeper. Right now it seems that both Delhi and Calcutta HCs will simply focus on how to facilitate 100% refunds for students. It may not delve into legal status of these courses if the aggrieved students and the university settle it at the level of refunds.
The SJA doesn't want the university to touch the fees received from undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral students. All refunds will only be taken out of distance education fees currently available with the university, including funds that are yet to be transferred to private partners. This is going to become a flash point but the courts are likely going to say something like this to the university - "refund 100% and recover from pvt partners, if the law permits and/or from the guilty university staff."
The last bit is going to be tricky. However, there have been numerous instances when the state or central government was asked to pay up and then recover the funds paid from the salary/PF of the errant officers. In some cases they were made personally liable and made to pay compensation directly.
The tricky bit will not be absence of precedents but one of institutional will. Will NKC going against his IL friends? Will the AG and others stop playing tricks and conduct/allow the inquiry to be completed in a fair, objective and timely manner? One of the alleged wrongdoers scurried away on a lien. Another went out of town today as a crucial hearing is coming up next week in the Calcutta HC.
The SJA should remember how the Calcutta HC instituted Justice PN Sinha Inquiry Report which led to the thankful termination of SCM was subsequently buried by PIB and later by Lord Taluk and AG. I still cannot fathom why Lord Taluk did it. The motivations of PIB and AG are very obvious. SJA must ensure that not only the Justice PN Sinha Report is exhumed and implemented but also the proper completion of pending inquiries.
Why is NKC yet to take action on the Maitra Inquiry Report? Registrar (Acting) stalling just as she tried to do with SH, distance education and other matters?
Also your law is weak. If course is illegal, then it's all illegal. Writs will be filed against university to recall certificates. You think it's so easy? If you are counting of lord taluks friends in judiciary, remember things would be dragged to supreme court too. On top of that all the consumer court cases NUJS is not even appearing in. Those ex parte orders are gonna hit now or later.
SJA is grossly under misinformation.
Plus just FYI, students who have studied two years or even for a year do not want refunds, they want certificates. If they want refunds, they will ask for compensation. UGC norms is 1 lakh per person compensation, precedence against private parties, may be applied for first time against a government university. Just check Indian Kannion for the number of petitioners in the refund case and number of people who files writ demanding certificates.
"NUJS is authorised by the West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences Act, 1999 to start its own degrees as an autonomous university. [b]It has complied with all formalities and applied to UGC for recognition which is pending with UGC. Recognition is expected to be received in due course[/b] as the course more than exceeds the requirements and norms in terms of quality, excellence and facilities provided to students. "
Now, the question is, was iPleaders lying or was NUJS lying?
Personally, I would want my degree and not my money back.
[img]https://i.imgur.com/ZF29ONe.png[/img]
[img]https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D-sfcEdVUAED2fn.jpg[/img]
- Neeraj Kishan Kaul, who represented Priyanka Sharma in the meme case (to speak on the case)
- Mukul Rohatgi, who has appeared in many case against the Bengal govt
- Bikash Bhattacharya from CPIM (to speak on the Saradha scam, where he is representing the victims pro bono)
- Swapan Dasgupta and Anirban Ganguly from BJP
- Adhir Chowdhury and Arunava Ghosh from Congress
Looking forward to his stooges replying with a strong defence and how he is still better than VCV!!!
[img]https://epaper.telegraphindia.com//epaperimages/13072019/13072019-md-hr-10/153928259.jpg[/img]
NKC is all talk. Taking action will cost him dearly. And he has to return so many favours. That has already started. Check the process of guest faculty selections, IPR Chair etc. If you want him to actually take action, you know what to do.
And let's not talk about TT. They are all about fluff. Politically they are squeezed. They have a lot of pending bills with the state government and demonetization had an adverse impact on the ABP group. There is a family feud as well. Recently the centre decided to reduce its funding for ads in TT/ABP. Massive lay offs have taken place. Fluff is all they have.
iPleaders is also guilty of misrepresentation. They cannot simply say it was the university's responsibility to get the due permissions from the UGC etc. They knew very well that the university did not have the permissions. And as a student you should have checked the UGC DEB website. Or simply sought better clarification from the university. Maybe you did that and still got a fake answer.
I empathize with your situation. But it puzzles me why have the aggrieved distance education students not come down harder on iPleaders and the SDME officials, especially the Director? You all could have easily petitioned the NUJS EC directly when Justice Talukdar was not responding to calls and emails. Why no complaints against him or the Registrar or the SDME Director? Why hasn't iPleaders approached the EC till date? Will it do now because their friends inside the university think that they have "their man" in the chair now?
Is that why certain worthies with the help of a "friendly" Registrar are having frentic pow wows with the new VC?
iPleaders is hoping that "friendly" Registrar will get to stay longer; inquiries can still be frustrated; and the friends named in the change.org petition will use their old connections with NKC to sway things their way. I do expect this matter to drag out. After all loyalties will get tested.
Yes, Justice League folks haven't acquitted themselves any better. But I don't belong to JL or IL. I just want this chicanery to end and the guilty getting the boot. But not before they are made to indemnify the university. Heads will roll and I don't care if some in the EC lose theirs.
https://twitter.com/jdhankhar1
https://www.facebook.com/centerforhuman.rights
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcImZsKTqmU[/youtube]
Their is enough material publicly available for Swapan Dasgupta and his RS/LS party colleagues, including those from WB, to use in "favour" of NUJS or INI stuff if they really wanted to do anything worthwhile. And then they have trolls who keep popping up here.
I agree that Green interference is killing NUJS. But is saffron the answer? Why not rainbow?
And what about SH matter? Will NKC do a PIB here too? No recovery of our money frittered away? What about investigating those who allowed this to happen? Can't we go after them? Make them pay up?
Many say we should give NKC a chance. I agree. Let's get the SJA to tell him the following and see what he actually does other than mumbling -
1. Real, tangible action on RG and AR Acad. Not the LDG variety.
2. Complete the Registrar and AO selections. No more interims and ad hocs. We shall not be starved.
3. Approximately Rs 50 lacs was paid to the SH guy between Aug 2013 to June 2019. Actually check if he is still getting paid. You can never trust the Registrar and AO.
4. All inquiries need to be assigned an end date.
5. PN Sinha Report needs to be implemented and money recovered from the erring university officials.
6. Chair and centre appointments cannot be shrouded in opacity. There needs to be a proper policy in place. Cannot be used to return or curry favours by VC and his acolytes.
BTW he is the only person in the administration who is permanent- not interim or ad hoc. Therefore be careful of what you ask for!!
I would like to know what the SJA has to say about this, since they have welcomed NKC and not supported VCV.
If the news regarding 50% quota in NUJS is true then that is worrisome. But where is the proof? Also what really is the point of stoking embers and not offering credible solutions?
The nationalize NLUs is not going anywhere because there is no unity among the NLU student bodies and all the VCs are only interested in securing personal profits. Even if the NLU student bodies come together they have no clear idea on the details of how the INI will actually work out. While the students can rant and rave, the benefits will actually go the administrators who will concentrate more power.
The reality is that the central govt doesn't want to take extra burden for things that do not have big political pay offs. IIT, IIM, AIIMS, IIIT and even NIT makes more sense. Have you ever seen the centre "gift" an NLU. Depending on politics the centre will create/gift IIEST, NIT, IISER maybe even a NIFT/NID/SPA but NLU is a state thing.
Centre is mostly interested in shedding it share of funding in central universities etc. Hence the directive to raise a min of of 30% of revenue from other sources. A portion of the funding is getting routed through HEFA. All these indicate that central govt would much rather fund a smaller crop of IoE and Category I autonomous institutions.
On the aspect of law, the Ministry is mostly interested in AIJS and how to control judicial appointments at all levels. INI et al is not even a flicker on its radar. Unless INI is a politically seductive proposition, it is simply not going to fly in the courts or with the ministry.
That's the real deal. While the Green threat is real, saffron bhakts are no Samaritans. Both wish to bait us through combinations of fear and favour. And they already have our Faulty and admin staffs.
But the WB govt does not care. The politically connect will get jobs. As with the left, many green politicos too have the funding to send their children abroad or in other states. And those who cannot or will not leave Bengal are simply
not in a position to do anything. They will keep scrambling to get what they can.
There is no immediate political incentive to reverse the quota politics. To paraphrase Clinton for Bengal..."its politics, stupid". The economics comes later, if at all, in this part of the world.
https://www.news18.com/news/india/govt-empanelled-lawyers-boycott-calcutta-hc-judges-court-as-she-heckles-them-during-hearings-2240817.html
https://www.sundayguardianlive.com/news/kolkata-lady-judge-stands-intimidation-tmc-leader
[img]https://i.imgur.com/DLEGhAK.png[/img]
And after this underhanded act, you expect SJA and NUJS students to agree with your points? Why are you bent on making this campus another political battleground. None of us are happy with the politicking that was started by Lord Taluk, KD and his friends in the EC. You really think that judges are beyond it?
Do you really think Justice Samapti Chatterjee needs trolls such as you to defend her dignity? She is not that fragile. Cannot say that same for many of her peers who grace the bench or in the recent past.
If you are fishing for trouble, go elsewhere. If you really want to help NUJS, help us with the following -
1. Insulate the VC from politics. This includes having KD and his pals back off without going saffron.
2. Swift and meaningful completion of the pending inquiries without fear or favour; and decisive steps thereafter.
3. Implementation of the Justice PN Sinha Inquiry Report and special audit of NUJS finances etc.
4. Ensuring financial, administrative and academic autonomy of NUJS. This means saffron only gets to be inside campus as part of a rainbow, at best.
Nothing politically lucrative, huh? F**k off. And you can take the green and red with you as well. I think you are PK...you wear all the jerseys for a fee.
You may drink polyjuice and try to mislead or pose as someone else but your identity is well known. You frequently meet the Registrar and spend hours undoing the work that she should have actually done. You have been doing this while Taluk was around and compelled to continue because NKC isn't being as friendly as you'd have wanted him to be on campus. Not his fault actually. The evidence against you is compelling and he has lobbied hard for this chair. You need to up the incentives. The usual ones will not work.
Here is a tip. Unless you are already consulting (which I am sure you have because both of you are in same boat), get in touch with the veteran EC and AC member. Has multiple connections to VC.
I completely agree that it is NUJS that must bear the consequences. Whether it will or can successfully pursue a separate action against iPleaders is a different matter. However, I think that is the scare tactic that you want the Registrar to belt to the VC and her patrons in the EC.
I know that the sad story of Justice PN Sinha Inquiry which you are rumoured to have micromanaged, gives you hope that university will not initiate recovery proceedings or really go after the erring insiders (some Damned souls continue to be in business) but you real dread the prospect if the university comes after you and your friends who shepherded and sheltered these deals.
You falsely believe that prolonging the stay of the Registrar and AO will help you. It has until now. Her patrons in the EC also don't want the trail to reach some sensitive places...and maybe that's really the lever that your group is using to keep the inquiries in a stillborn state. Are you sure things will stay that way? Maybe you are betting too much on the Registrar, VC and some EC members. Remember that your EC friends have only been able to slow things down including maybe getting the university lawyer to adopt dilatory tactics. But they never had the space to disagree that the entire distance education business was illegal. Ask your friends, especially the Registrar and former EC member the verbal lashings that the latter has suffered. You know it is not going to remain verbal much longer.
I totally agree that the Justice League are an incompetent lot. They are hitching a ride on the work that was done by a former SJA Prez who you hate just because he told you and your gang to Try Legal? But you keep pleading-a-lot of s**t.
Refunds have been okayed by the EC. Trust me your pocket will not go untouched. Far too long your gang has ripped off student fees.
Parmesan cheese moved recently. Better start packing. Maybe you all can be accommodated by the new Nizam of Hyderabad. You know the one I am talking about.
I guess they are so used to getting "committed" judges that they cannot swallow the fact that a few still have a spine. What has been even more upsetting for the green men (aliens are probably better) is the fact that a "female" judge gave it back so good.
Fun fact. KB protege is KD and the latter suffers from the same ills as his godfather/mentor. KD is on our EC and for those still fighting the good fight to make our university great again, I can only repeat an immortal line from Hunger Games "remember who the real enemy is"
I don't know how the LLMs are faring at NUJS. Maybe some folks in the SJA can be designated to liaison with LLMs who probaby suffer quietly. Then again they stay shorter unless they end up in the Faulty club. Guess that's how the oppressed-oppressor dynamic works here.
But this also makes me very interested to know about the action taken on those who almost messed up the career of an alumna because wrist-slaps will not do. And even now we suffer. The academic section sucks. Something decisive must be done.
This shows that we still have judges who refuse to be stared down by KB and KD gang. More power to such judges.
Why should we suffer and tolerate KD's tantrums and rule by proxy at NUJS?
Cat got your tongue? I totally love the irony. Question was posed by a fellow BJP parliamentarian and the finality with which the "nationalization" charade was demolished, simply priceless.
Here is the thing. I absolutely abhor what is going on right now. PIB tried, Taluk initiated and NKC will be giving the finishing touches to the political takeover of NUJS. If the greens exit, the saffron will complete the unfinished business. What I particularly love about this development is this: it finally stops the saffron hardsell and finally gets us (hopefully) to pursue other alternate pathways, which we should have walked a long time ago.
Some commentators here repeatedly opined that INI is a pipe dream. The politics and economics at play simply don't support such a move. AIJS however nebulous it has been all these years is still a good political sell. INI isn't.
Here is the biting reality to confront.
1. NKC will sell us out. He has started it already. And it has nothing to do with political pressure. Selling out got him this far and there is no reason to get off a tried and tested gravy train. In any event, NUJS is the gravy train right now.
2. Unfortunately, a saffron loss in this state (at least) may have actually helped NUJS. But that's a silly thing to say because someone shares Trump traits here anyway. But there was an odd chance that if the saffron folks had not spooked the green (wo)men so badly, the political imperative to have the domicile quota imposed so heavily wouldn't have been there. Just saying we may have been able to snatch some elbow room.
3. The Governor and Chancellor trips will not work. What is the better "voting" proposition that we can give against quota? Sure there is no conclusive evidence that quotas don't equal to votes. But try telling that to green (wo)men. Actually try that on saffron folks as well. Unless we come with a better political payoff proposition at the level of perception, quota is what will fly.
4. Loss of quality, erosion of national or cosmopolitan character and other such claims will need to be backed by solid evidence, even if not conclusive. Even then there are no guarantees because this state (as do many others) has a rich history of hollowing out institutions while howling against such acts by political opponents elsewhere.
5. While we are worked up, has anyone even bothered to check with Faulty. Yes they all are pretty much lost cause but why let them off for that? While we get screwed why should they be allowed to live off so handsomely on our money. Let's put them under the glare and take their masks off. They cannot be drawing central benefits while letting the state mutilate us. Their salaries etc must be at same level as their peers. Most of the Faulty don't even deserve that.
6. If the state treats us as playthings and vermins and lords over our money, then we should follow a scorched earth policy. Cut off their lines of profits. Expose their agents. Make no mistake. We will lose the quota and CLAT battle against the forces of the state. But following a scorched earth policy, we must give them a fight that they will remember. Maybe after a bruising battle they will leave us be. And they can take their so-called grants up their.....and fill up holes in other places. We can and will do better without their money and the jokers on campus.
Regarding scorched earth policy, I am not very sure which steps you meant exactly. Open protests? Boycott university programmes? Strikes? You think there would be sufficient participation?
The writing on the wall for NUJS? If only people knew how VC is effecting the quiet but rapid sell out.
Justice League and Injustice League are done fighting for now. While they are divvying, the students are going to get f****d big time.
http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/2019/aug/03/kiit-varsity-accorded-institute-of-eminence-tag-2013453.html
https://indianexpress.com/article/education/iim-calcutta-oci-card-holder-director-hrd-5865388/
https://sja.nujs.edu/newsroom/2019/08/03/1st-prof-dr-madhava-menon-legal-conclave
The JU VC despite being a "party man" (Red turned Green) tried so hard to stall the domicile quota to better JU's chances of getting the IoE tag and funding. But political considerations trumped everything. With INI poofed by the saffron, glorious days ahead for NUJS under the ever ready to crawl when asked to bend administration.
While VC effects the sell out the other VP keeps shuttling between VC and Registrar to curry favours. Also had I not seen it with my own I wouldn't have known how irresistible M&M can be for the aforementioned VP. It so sweet that it is bitter. It can get Dam(N) confusing because another VP is also chummy with MM.
By the way @Guest (97) by your logic, Sudhir Krishnaswamy should now be evicted from the NLSIU VC race because APU failed to make the cut https://www.ndtv.com/education/institutions-of-eminence-ugc-releases-list-includes-iits-iisc-jio-institute-delhi-university-bits-pi-2079531?pfrom=home-people
Now that SK has been graded C, he must come to NUJS. Oh wait that seat is already occupied.
Since IoE concept did not even consider NLUs at design stage, some smarty pants thought that ranting can get us INI. NLUs are neither eminent nor important in the scheme of things right now and unlikely in the near future. We may have been modeled on IITs and IIMs but we never acquired the traction that they acquired and continue to hold.
INI was a concept that has mostly had a political run. NLUs are not politically lucrative to the Centre. Central Universities are being directed to raise 30% funding from other sources. NIT costs are shared with states. So-called autonomous institutes but heavily dependent on Centre for funding (including reputed ones like TIFR, SINP etc) are being read the riot act. Despite the politics and optics, Patna University was denied a Central Univ status upgrade. IIIT only under PPP mode.
What is the way out for NUJS? NKC believes it is NAAC. I can only shudder in horror at the prospect of NUJS going for NAAC accreditation. We will be officially branded "second tier". Of course NKC and his friends know everything. Ask VP for further details. I know this can be confusing but whichever you catch should have info based on the daily visits made to and time spent in VC and Registrar offices.
[img]https://i.imgur.com/H9NXZPz.png[/img]
https://m.telegraphindia.com/states/west-bengal/law-students-to-turn-teachers/cid/1697029
Coming soon to NUJS. VP responsible for this. Confused? Doesn't matter they are chaddi buddies. What's the point of trying to lord over ashes?