Long overdue show of unity from NLU students. However, much more needs to be done to make up for lost time. All NLU students must go on strike, and during the strike seek meetings with the CJI, law minister, opposition MPs and CLAT consortium -- possibly file a PIL as well.

What were the NLU student associations doing all along? Among the IITs and IIMs they have strong unity despite placement rivalries. There is even an alumni organisation called Pan IIT, encompassing all IITs (http://paniit.org) and similarly Pan IIM. At NLUs the students have been very divided and are paying the price. It is too late for the demand to be met unless the likes of Modi, Rahul Gandhi and the SC intervene directly (which will not happen).

Pointless protest. Get NLU students across India to boycott classes indefinitely, coverage on national news channels, and a response from Ravi Shankar Prasad/Javadekar/senior lawyers --- that will be a proper protest.

[img]https://media1.giphy.com/media/xT1XGQqp4a4HNFU3Di/200.gif[/img]

"inefficiently administrated educational institutions that failed the cause of legal excellence in India”.

Surely you mean 'administered.' Some rigour will take you far in life, however little you might think of this intervention.

Best for the movement.

"It is saddening that even after 10 years of CLAT and establishment of 21 NLUs, the authorities have not acted in the direction of achieving the goal for which NLUs were conceptualized."

It is even sadder for those of us who know effort in this direction was made early in Modi prime ministership. These efforts were initiated through Bimal Patel but were quickly shot down.

You can see the MHRD's attitude towards educational institutions (asking them to become self-sustaining) and see why this happened.

A concerted, inclusive (admins, faculty and students) and sustained almost revolutionary push is needed. However, I doubt that even this would be enough for NLUs given their small student numbers.

These students are highly misguided. While it is inspiring to see them dream naively, these universities were set up by States, many of them are heavily funded by States and very much under the ultimate control of the states. Respective states have the right to run these institutions as they please. Democracy comes at a cost my friend. You can get INI status, but NLUs will remain state universities only. Only hope is to involve SC judges to balance the state government, which Menon did. You guys are going against the constitution, and fighting the wrong battle by asking for nationalization. I hope you get smarter and cannier soon.

We don't want nationalization of NLUS. Thx bi.

[quote]However, I doubt that even this would be enough for NLUs given their small student numbers.
[/quote]

Which is precisely why all NLUs need to protest together as soon as the term commences. Also, the NLU Bill introduced by Prof Sugata Bose is not a good bill, because it makes the High Court CJ the Chancellor. High Court CJs are more vulnerable to political manipulation as they want promotions to the SC. The CJI should be the Chancellor for all NLUs.

I think the best solution is to get an SC order temporarily staying all further reservations at NLUs pending the report of a high-level committee exploring Nationalisation. This committee can be a joint effort between the judiciary and legislature.

Unfortunately, the protests will fail. There is too much disunity and rivalry among NLUs. Even though a united class boycott will have minimum effect on careers (as the majority of faculty are poor and students learn on their own) students of certain NLUs are known to be averse to protests and will not participate, such as NLSIU, GNLU and NLUJ. NLSIU may join in purely because the domicile quota bill is looming as the 2019 election approaches, but I doubt if GNLU and NLUJ ever will.

To put pressure on the Modi government, NLU students can approach the following bodies/people:

IN BJP:
- Arun Jaitley: he makes announcements abut IITs and IIMs in the budget, and is currently seeking suggestions for the 2019 budget
- Vikramjeet Banerjee, Member of BJP Legal Cell; NLSIU alum and ex-NUJS professor


IN CONGRESS
- All India Professionals Congress (headed by Shashi Tharoor)
- Legal Cell (headed by Senior Advocate Vivek Tankha, who had mediated during the NLIU protests)
- National Students Union of India

[...] Whats the use of demonstrating inside the campus. [...] let them demonstrate in front of the state government and EC members residences. Can they court arrest? Can they face police action? [...] real student protests unlike DUSU. Who will see these beautiful SOS symbols? Not the people in power LOL

A US website www.nationallawschoolconsortium.com already exists!

URGENT NOTICE: Shashi Tharoor and the Professionals Congress are organising an event this week with the top legal brains of the Congress attending. It is open to students (I got the info from my friend at JGLS, who is attending). Seats are limited and you have to register in advance. This may be an opportunity to raise the Nationalise NLUs issues.


[img]https://d3ohrsh0hwj88.cloudfront.net/42eHdelhievent.jpg[/img]

The demand to nationalise NLUs originated in a similar joint statement made some years ago, also covered by LI. Nothing happened because the students were lethargic and disunited, and did not pursue the matter further. I am quite sure the same thing will happen here. Forget the CJI and Law Minister, not even the local councillor will receive a petition. This applies to all NLUs. All talk, no action.

ATTN all NLUs!! Economic Times is reporting that the government has waived the condition of UGC NET for faculty recruitment in law schools, if a candidate has a PhD from a top 500 university in the QS/Times rankings. In the past, some corrupt VCs had cited UGC NET as an excuse to keep NLU alumni with foreign PhDs out of teaching, hiring their own pet candidates instead. This can no longer happen, so NLUs facing a faculty problem should now point this out to their VCs.

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/services/education/phd-holders-from-top-foreign-varsities-eligible-for-direct-recruitment-as-assistant-professor-ugc/articleshow/66847649.cms

This will not help law school too much. The so-called benefit is just for PhD holders, not LLM holders and how many foreign PhD holders actually come back and join Indian universities much less law schools? At the Top 3 law schools (NLSIU, NALSAR and NLUDelhi) there will be hardly 5 of them in total with PhD from a top 500 university. The deserving ones dont even need this benefit (Mrinal, Aparna, Anoop, Rahul Singh) as the law schools have already given them jobs long before this news.

You call this a protest? Strikes, boycotts and marches are protests, not this Twitter bullshit. Anyway, the EC will approve it next week, with the seal of the new VC. The SJA is clueless as usual.

VC application deadline officially over. Law Minister and govt already picked their own candidate. Sham selection decision tomorrow. EC approval few days later, first day in office 1 January. Meanwhile, various TMC people being lined up to join the EC.

Time is running out for both NLSIU and NUJS. Unless students and alumni unite and approach the SC, the domicile quota will come into effect for both colleges in a matter of weeks. Both the Kumaraswamy and Mamata governments are determined do this before the 2019 elections. Rao and the next NUJS VC are unlikely to oppose it. In Karnataka, it was actually the Congress which introduced the bill (seeking 30% reservation) and the BJP demanded that it be hiked to 50%, which was implemented. Thus, no political party will help the students. Only the SC can help.

This is just in. The state government has apparently communicated to the search comm that SS Chatterjee is their preferred candidate for VC. He's a CU professor and been its dean. He and CM are close too. Which probably explains why he pipped MKS and NKC at the last moment.

The application procedure for the NUJS VC can be challenged. The advertisement was copied from a similar one for IGNOU. However, the IGNOU application (and all other university applications) ask for a list of publications with citations, fellowships received etc (all links below). Thus NUJS advertisement just asks for a CV, without specifying what should go into the CV. The candidate has been decided through an arbitrary process. However, before Justice Mishra and the EC rubber-stamp their approval, a last-minute intervention by the SJA is possible.

http://www.nujs.edu/careers/nujs-vice-chancellor-oct18.pdf
http://mhrd.gov.in/sites/upload_files/mhrd/files/IGNTU.pdf
http://ignou.ac.in/userfiles/Application%20format%20of%20Vice-Chancellor%201%20(1).pdf

[img]https://i.imgflip.com/2nyuqp.jpg[/img]

ATTN SJA: Luckily for NUJS, the deadline for NIRF submission has been extended till the end of this week. The placement data for 2018 means NUJS has a good shot at improving its rank, so please prod the admin to submit the data. Do something useful for a change! According to the methodology, 20% is devoted to Graduate Outcomes.

https://nirfcdn.azureedge.net/2018/framework/Law.pdf
https://www.nirfindia.org/Home

I request everyone to please be patient. Action is being planned across NLUs. As for media coverage, the media rights now is busy with assembly elections. The results will be out on 11th, developments will be discussed till 15th or so, and then it is an opportune time to raise the issue in public.

We specifically submitted to the selection committee that the next VC should have experience at an NLU/top university and not be from a private university. Yet, the top shortlisted candidates included two people heading private law colleges, and two others from a poorly regarded university in Bengal (famous for awarding Rather Particular PhDs). We have nothing against Bengalis, e.g. NL Mitra was the second VC of NLSIU and founded NLUJ. But we have a big problem when you select Bengalis with poor qualifications just because they are going to serve the narrow agenda of a regional political party.

Several messages are being sent on Whats App saying SS Chatterjee (Director of Heritage Law College, Kolkata) has been selected as the VC of NUJS. Can LI confirm whether this is true? If this is true, I think we should be told the following:

1) Who else applied?
2) Why was his research record/publications, admin experience and overall standing considered superior?
3) Was the article in the Telegraph with certain adverse information considered?

To follow up on point 2, I did some research and found the following:

1) On JSTOR (which stores foreign journals + Indian journals like EPW and JILI) I could not find any results for S S Chatterjee, except a science researcher by the same name.

2) On Hein Online (which stores all top foreign journals, as well as leading journals of NLUs), I found many articles authored by people with the surname Chatterjee, but none by SS Chatterjee.

3) Similar, I searched Westlaw and could not find anything.

4) Finally, Google Books and Google Scholar also draws a blank.

If my search was incorrect and someone can correct me, then I apologise in advance.

[img]https://i.ibb.co/0MqmYTN/Screenshot-2018-12-03-at-10-03-44-PM.png[/img]

Absolutely unacceptable if the rumour circulating is true. A strike and class boycott must be called. If the person does not leave voluntarily (as happened with PIB at CNLU) then the appointment can be challenged.

TOI report on High Court petition against SSC: [i]"the ruling Trinamool, in its bid to bring the PSC under its grip, has appointed former North Bengal University vice-chancellor S S Chatterjee as the PSC board chairman." [/i]

http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31812&articlexml=ROW-OVER-BOARD-CHAIRMAN-HC-puts-PSC-hiring-01072017007036

To anyone who thinks PIB was better, please remember that it was he who actually started to politics the NUJS EC/GC and get TMC people in, to safeguard his position. In the Menon-Chimni-Singh years, very eminent lawyers and educationists were on the EC/GC.

NLIU: Students vetoed the appointment of an under-qualified VC and got Vijaykumar appointed instead: https://www.legallyindia.com/lawschools/nliu-students-red-light-allahabad-uni-s-bp-singh-as-new-director-choice-question-opacity-in-director-appointment-process-20180509-9337

CNLU: Students successfully got PIB's appointment reversed through protests
https://www.legallyindia.com/lawschools/nujs-vc-ishwara-bhat-causes-campus-lockdown-at-cnlu-even-before-taking-seat-as-its-vc-00011130-9173

NUJS: Will the students have the same resolve?

A few days ago, I posted a comment (based on a source) saying that the VC candidate was decided on 30 Nov and it is a person close to the TMC. My source now tells me that the decision has now been endorsed by the search committee and the Chancellor in writing. A few days from now, a meeting will be held where a formal resolution will be passed. In fact, this person will be attending the meeting and formally welcomed as the new VC. Same with the Registrar's appointment.

At the meeting, not only will the domicile quota Act be implemented, but a resolution will be passed to open a new branch of NUJS in Asansol (the constituency of the law minister). For the remainder of the month, a plan will be made to fill in faculty and staff vacancies with TMC people. An advertisement will be issued and selections completed by the end of January.

Apparently a Bengali news channel has announced the news in a news ticker, while people are saying that he will assume charge on Monday itself. There are court judgements striking down academic appointments on the basis of arbitrariness in procedure, and even without litigation the students were able to veto the VC appointments at NLIU and CNLU. However, we first need to know who else applied. In the present case, these questions would be relevant:

1. Should the advertisement have laid down better criteria? For example, the GNLU advertisement is also quite brief, but it still uses the following terms: "published works of high quality", "highest levels of competence, integrity and morals", "letter of recommendations" needed.

2. Should the search committee have asked applicants to disclose past misconduct and litigation faced?

3.Should the search committee have asked for a list of publications and assessed weightage according to the repute of the publication?

4. Should the search committee have interviewed all candidates?

5. Should the search committee have considered the SJA submission?

6. All advertisements ask for a soft copy and hard copy. Why were only hard copies asked for by post? For example, this makes it difficult to annex all your journal publications.

7. Lastly, was the manner in which the search committee constituted unlawful, as there was no academician in the list and a TMC man was removed after student intervention?

Why are we acting very surprised with the turn of events? Strongly recommend that screengrabs et al be done because these links may vanish.

If the Education Minister and CM have these histories, any surprise why SS Chatterjee is the pick?

https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/dr-same-same-chatterjee/cid/1489382 (scroll down for a gem on CM)

Why Rather Particular or anyone Sensible can be complacent about plagiarism?

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Copy-paste-barb-at-Dr-Parthas-thesis/articleshow/51818007.cms

Diversity, that too sexual, what's that? Coming up culture police on campus.

https://www.thequint.com/news/india/kolkata-education-minister-partha-chatterjee-against-lesbianism-in-school

Previous attempts to draft in regime friendly folks in the GC, EC and AC -

https://www.indiatvnews.com/politics/national/mamata-astrologer-to-law-university-s-general-council-7533.html

https://www.legallyindia.com/lawschools/artist-suvaprasanna-rejects-nujs-acad-a-exec-council-posts-after-row-in-legal-circles-20120925-3134

http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/suvaprasanna-rejects-nujs-post-offered-by-govt/1007481/0

And the new round of apparatchiks begins with -

http://www.millenniumpost.in/kolkata/kargil-war-veteran-2-others-join-trinamool-congress-277419

Not to forget our dear Lord Taluk, apparatchik-in-chief. Seriously believe that he or Registrar "did not know" about the Amendments? We believe him. What does he intend to do beyond the obvious?

https://www.telegraphindia.com/states/west-bengal/bengal-govt-employees-have-right-to-da-hc/cid/1664941

The government does not have money but will litigate for years. As does NUJS by bleeding students dry. IOUs being settled at our expense?

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/calcutta-high-court-declares-dearness-allowance-a-legal-right-1909503

Have a spine? Look elsewhere

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/i-resigned-to-keep-my-spine-firm-says-bengals-former-advocate-general/articleshow/57213834.cms

https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/law-officer-quits-police-officer-shifted-mitra-leaves-amid-talk-of-sniping/cid/332502

"Cooked up" charges against Stars of Bengal - SS Chatterjee and NKC

https://www.telegraphindia.com/states/west-bengal/private-tuition-slap-for-two-university-teachers/cid/1119477

http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31812&articlexml=ROW-OVER-BOARD-CHAIRMAN-HC-puts-PSC-hiring-01072017007036

Of course they want to occupy NUJS and peddle student admissions, faculty and staff recruitments, construction tenders et al. Do we let them? CNLU, NLIU and HNLU students stood firm. Why aren't we having our own #OccupyNUJS?

If we do a law school ranking based on which law school has done the best and most effective protest, this is how it would look:

1. NALSAR (against Veer Singh)
2. HNLU (against Sukhpal)
3. NLIU (against SSS)
4. NLU Ranchi (against Nirmal)
5. NUJS (against Bhat)
6. CNLU (against Lakshminath)
7.NLU Guwahati (against VKS)

Yes, time is running out. Another blow is in the offing in the next EC whenever they call one. I am sure as with the last EC, this one will also be scheduled when students are vacating the campus or have left already. That's what has been happening under Lord Taluk. EC, AC etc are held when students are busy with exams et al. The VC and Registrar are political appointees and need to go.

Assuming that they did not know about the Bill, what have they done about it? Have they convened a faculty meeting or a joint meeting with the students to discuss this sudden move by the Govt. This means that at the very least they support the amendment. That makes sense. I have heard strong rumours concerning the nativist and sexist thinking and views of both the VC and Registrar and Justice League as well.

Lord Taluk and Registrar need to be ousted. I am sure they consider themselves invincible having bested SJA and students thus far. Whether the amendment is reversed, put on hold but nothing good can happen to this university while these two political collaborators continue in their present stations. We need to expose how Lord Taluk and his team have methodically destroyed our university. We have become a joke.

#OmitTalukdar #SikhaSentPacking

Many have commented here that PIB was a lesser evil and SJA should not have ousted him. The reality is that SJA power is overstated. Was there a big value addition in 2018 petitions to what was submitted against PIB in 2016? The entire EC backed him for a second term then. PIB left because the state faction in the EC wanted him out. He had failed to deliver. They had Lord Taluk installed and he delivered. The university is in a great spot now for political takeover.

We all know that the VC selection is a farce. So why should things be different for Registrar, AO and FO positions? We are likely to see this Registrar continue and regime supporters becoming AO and FO. Please note that the VC and Registrar play key roles in the selection of AO, FO and other admin positions.

So even if by some miracle Lord Taluk were to actually leave (are we sure he will not be retained through Chair position or something else? I mean he has been so useful to this Govt as SAT chairperson; then as VC; surely elsewhere as well) and due to student intervention we get MKS or some "outsider" the triad of Registrar, AO and FO will ensure that person runs away or breaks bread with them.

This means that at a minimum we need make these two apparatchiks leave. They along with select faculty have ensured that no good soul ever applies here for VC. Faculty recruitments in future will also be a farce if this set up continues.

@Guest not sure what methodology you used for the ranking but I agree NALSAR got the best deal after protesting against VS. They got FM and I am sure it is not all rosy but NALSAR is doing great under FM.

At NLIU, the students were almost done in. If they didn't have the RMLNLU data sheet I doubt they could have done much. The state couldn't have pressed on after that exposure. It is still early days for VK.

HNLU should be commended for standing firm despite the SC order and active state support for Dukhpal. But the jury is still out on whether their interim VC will do a Lord Taluk and what will the HC do then? After dispatching Dukhpal what else has been happening?

I would rate NUJS, HNLU and CNLU in the same bracket because they all have former HC judges who have been installed by the state as interim VCs and none have shown (early days for HNLU) any serious intent to clean up and have a fair, transparent VC selection.

NLU Assam got a new VC but nothing much thereafter. And NLU Ranchi should be at the bottom because while the students ousted BC Nirmal they have been suffering a Judicial Officer (not retired HC judge) for the longest period; students faced police action and threats of charges et al.

NLU Ranchi is a cautionary tale for all NLUs but especially NUJS. You missed RMLNLU

https://www.livelaw.in/where-will-the-judges-sit-and-work-sc-rebukes-wb-govt-calcutta-hc-for-lackadaisical-approach-towards-the-severely-inadequate-judicial-infrastructure-in-the-state/

CJI Gogoi put it right - the Calcutta High Court is in deep slumber. This court over the last few hours has seen either local ACJs being made CJs because they would retire soon or judges from other states being allowed to retire as ACJs.

All the local ACJs who became CJs are regime friendly judges. The first became SHRC Chairperson (is also on NUJS GC) on retirement. SHRC Chair is a sensitive position and remained vacant even since Justice Ashok Ganguly had to resign due to SH charges. The more recently retired CJ is a known regime suck up. Even tried to get his brother elevated to Calcutta HC. And the latest (also on our EC and VC search committee) has begun to realise the benefits of grass being Greener on the other side.

The CJI anguish also tells a great deal about other gems - two judicial officers (both recently elevated to the Calcutta HC)- one in the EC and the other who was till recently yet another Registrar (Acting) at NUJS. If they are such sloths and yet get elevated to the Bench, can we not assume political favours being traded?

I support #OccupyNUJS #OmitTalukdar #SikhaSentPacking. Down with #(In)JusticeTalukdar

It is strange that on one hand students are agitating against the NUJS Amendment Act but on the other hand they are sweetly playing faculty / students cricket match with the same jokers in the faculty who conspired with the W.B. Govt. to pass the domicile quota at NUJS. These two-faced evils should be shamed by a dharna and posters.

One way to fight the government is if:

1. The students can officially confirm all the applicants.
2. Then, write to the Chancellor, EC and GC explaining who has the best CV and why.
3. Then, this submission gets "leaked" to LI and Bar & Bench.
4. Then, the mainstream newspapers pick up the story.

If a sham VC is still appointed, these developments will make it easier to argue that the process was arbitrary and the submission of the students should have been considered.

And if the students are completely ignored and a lockout like NLIU/HNLU happens, the following could be requested by the students to mediate:

1. Madhava Menon, MP Singh. Mohan Gopal.

2. Serving judges: Justice Dipankar Datta (known critic of government), Justice Joymalya Bagchi (convicted SSC of contempt), Justice PP Banerjee (already ruled against NUJS and is aware of state of affairs), and any other HC judge who is not a judicial service promotee or approaching retirement soon.

3. Two immediate former AGs, who are very respected senior lawyers and not biased like the present guy (Anindya Mitra and Jayanta Mitra, the latter is also charing the HC Bar Library Club and is familiar with issues at NUJS).

4. Justice Ruma Pal

5. A leading SC/HC lawyer. Someone like Vikramjit Banerji (who was once an assistant professor at NUJS) would be ideal. Other top lawyers from Bengal are Madhavi Diwan, Gourab Banerji, Debal Banerji, SN Mookherjee and Sudipto Sircar.

6. The newly appointed Director of IIM Cal (who is an ex officio member anyway). As she has a tenured positioning the US, she does not need to appease anyone in India (certainly not the Trinamul Congress).
https://www.iimcal.ac.in/director’s-message

[Image removed - appeared to be trolling fake news]

In an alarming decision, Justice T Chakrabaorty of the Calcutta High Court has just denied Amit Shah permission to carry out a rally in Bengal. The AG Kishore Dutta represented the government. The counsel for the BJP was Mr Anindya Mitra, ex-AG. The BJP has said that they will challenge the decision before the division bench and expect to get it overruled . Read between the lines, and you will find information relevant to the situation at NUJS --- who the students can/cannot expect support from.

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/west-bengal-government-denies-permission-to-amit-shahs-rath-yatra/articleshow/66968947.cms

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/bjp-denied-permission-for-amit-shahs-rath-yatra-by-calcutta-high-court-1958802

Law minister RS Prasad and HRD minister Javadekar are responsible for not granting INI status to NLUs and making them like IITs. These two clowns have not uttered a word on the various NLU protests,

Very interesting news: Media is reporting today that DU and IIT KGP will get Eminence status. Both of them have 3 year LLB law schools. As each Eminence university will get 1,000 crores, this means that at least 30 to 50 crores of funding + complete autonomy in faculty hiring and syllabus framing is going to these minor 3 year law schools. Meanwhile, the flagship 5 year NLUs have zero funding, limited autonomy, and are being burdened with quotas. In the case of IIT, their law school just has 50 students a batch and it is an IP law degree open to those with BTech degrees, so not even an inclusive law school like DU. This will surely energise the #NationaliseNLUs protest.

Justice AK Ganguly is the one high-level, anti-Mamata person who could have spoken out, but the foolish SJA protested and humiliated him and threw him out of NUJS (at the behest of an academician who is more interested in publicity than teaching). I am not defending what the SH incident, but compare with what happened with another judge, who was protected by the court and today visits law schools and gives lectures freely.

Check this out guys. The Institutes of Eminence Committee has recommended a separate tag of "Institute of Excellence" for some specialised colleges that applied for Institutes of Eminence status but are not big enough to deserve it. These are IIM, ISI, TISS, ICT and ICAR. But the committee missed out NLUs because no NLU applied to the committee for IOE status.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/education/expert-panel-recommends-12-institutions-for-eminence-status/story-vfO5TfTNmCg3ckdLuW0mRO.html

The SJA had an issue with PIB for having suppressed the Review Commission Report for around 4 months. Which they were right to have found problematic. But it has been 11 months now since SJA has had access to the report. So far, not even a single recommendation made in that report has been implemented. Not even the ridiculously easy ones including the internal academic reforms. The AC, EC and people in charge are just sitting on the recommendations and having meeting after meeting without any real step forward. But the SJA is no longer showing any agitation, nor discussing with the GB about strict steps forward. First they thought the interim admin will take steps, now they think the new admin will wield the magic wand. Not sure whether they are simply being impossibly naive or just plain stupid. This clearly shows that the agenda was only to remove PIB whose continuing presence the state was not in favour of, rather than to actually improve the conditions of the institution. If not, the SJA should simply have the guts to tell Lord Taluk to implement the recommendations that are within his power even as an interim VC or else leave to enjoy his judicial pension in peace in his dotage. These student reps are just pawns of the people playing their own power games!

There will be a shitstorm if JGLS finally gets IOE status. It will mean that the government is denying freedom from the UGC and other autonomy to NLUs but giving it to a private law school for the rich.

It seems that one of the people being discussed here has published in a journal by a publisher listed as a predatory publisher. The article was "co-authored" with a PhD student.

https://beallslist.weebly.com

http://rfppl.co.in/view_editorial_details.php?id=1719

With Modi govt being humbled in the election and 2 months left for the election, this is a perfect time to demand INI status for NLUs.

Why does the Wikipedia page of NUJS mention Amit [b]TAIMUR[/b] as the VC? There are also many other mistakes and outdated info on the page. A bad website and a bad Wikipedia page do not convey a good impression of the college.

Well said. Amit Taimur. This is better than whoever gave him the moniker Lord Taluk or Lord Justice. And he is definitely Amit Taimur the Lame for the lame excuses he keeps making and not because of any injuries (he has none and he is Teflon coated by the AG). He will beg to differ though and state the (false) injuries that have been caused to him by us.

An illustrative list of Taimur's lame excuses -

1. He is not here by choice (but chooses to stay on and destroy NUJS)

2. He can resign and leave anytime (but hasn't because his assigned mission is yet to be completed. Dec 22 is the D-day).

3. He is saving us tons of money (pray how? - not taking remuneration?)

4. He is an old man sent here to make NUJS (a) great (joke)

5. He didn't know about NUJS amendment Bill (killer deadpan lie)

SJA ex president has written an article in the Wire against Talukdar https://thewire.in/law/legislating-national-out-of-national-law-universities-in-west-bengal

Sure he may have been effusive but why single him out or SJA? I am sure many in the GB expected Lord Taluk to clean up the mess quickly. That he had a hidden agenda and was going to act as a political agent was really not expected. But once he was exposed what have we as GB demanded from SJA? We don't even take GB meetings seriously. There are limitations to what the SJA can do and we cannot forget that last time the state was keen to throw out PIB. But now they want Taluk to remain and ensure a smooth handover to another political lackey.

Forget SJA. Will the GB actually stay back till Dec 22 and enforce #OccupyNUJS? Everyone wants freedom, autonomy et al. But how many of us are willing to pay the price? Why haven't we publicly called out the SJA faculty advisors? What have they done to help us?

In 2013, over 400 alumni had signed a petition against PIB to the Chancellor, at the request of the SJA.

https://www.change.org/p/chief-justice-of-india-to-seek-urgent-intervention-against

The SJA chose not to submit the petition in the end (BIG MISTAKE) but at least they took the initiative of reaching out to alumni. I can't understand why the present SJA is not even bothering to contact alumni and ask them to sign a petition. It will be too late by the time the EC approves the domicile quota and puppet VC.

The problem of a stooge VC taking over is very worrying, because several other NLUs either have vacancies or will have them soon. The good candidates may head to these NLUs right away or bide time till 2020, instead of coming to NUJS. The advertisement for the new VC should have been challenged right away for vagueness in language and for ignoring the student representation.

The SJA folks didn't anonymize (unlike our faculty) themselves in articles that were critical of the NUJS amendment. They face the FC, AC, EC head on. Should we fete them for all this and more? Absolutely not. It's part of their job.

But what have we done? How many came for the recent GB? Sure the SJA leadership is insipid. Maybe they should have done a vigorous door-to-door campaign; chai (or some other substance) pey charchas; mohalla sabha inspired stuff...but clearly they didn't. But if they are keyboard warriors what are we - talking heads on LI? Armchair pundits?

Did we spontaneously do any black-band, yellow vest et al stuff in the class after exams? Did we call out our dear faculty for their covert collaboration with state agents, including the VC? Do we really need SJA authorisation to do any of this?

@ Guest 56.1.1.1 If the SJA were to request us to stay back; return from internships; cancel vacations plans and stay put till we make ourselves heard by the powers that be...how many of us will be willing to do that? I know at least two people who wouldn't - you and I

can't understand why the SJA keeps trusting someone who is clearly their enemy.

I am aware of "real world matters" That is the reason why I said that I do understand the compulsions of Guest 56.1.1.1 to engage in keyboard warrior tactics (while criticizing it). I also mentioned that many, including myself and very likely Guest 56.1.1.1 will not sacrifice our vacations, internships et al to make ourselves heard. And yes, if we remain disjointed as we are right now, even an inspired SJA can do little.

That SJA has been checkmated has been obvious for many months now. What's the use of flogging a dead horse? Wearing black-bands, doing silent protests and vigils et al do not require SJA authorisation. I may not have all the details but apparently the HNLU protests snowballed after certain female students protested against inaction on SH issues. Where is the spontaneity here? We have had so many triggers but nothing got us to do anything.

If this SJA has been failing why have we not removed them or imposed our demands and ensure that they follow through? And if they are not doing anything useful now, why did we not give them hell in the GB? Better still why not do our thing with or without SJA?

Faculty here are permanent. And even then they do not have spine. The so-called lack of formal association doesn't inhibit them from forming one (more likely to be used for self-serving purposes at the expense of students) or doing the right thing. Did we not see how quickly some started posturing differently the moment they knew PIB had resigned. You will see them do all this again if we succeed this time as well.

Our collective cowardice (myself included) reminds me of the famous poem by Martin Niemoller https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_they_came_...

Or alternatively in Potter lingo soon we will need to choose between what is right and what is easy. We know the choice that the faculty has made. Do we follow suit? Many among us have. Maybe it is safer and "intelligent" to have a herd mentality.

http://www.epaper.eisamay.com/Details.aspx?id=45113&boxid=39397

For the given space and word limits the reporter has done a good job. The highlighted points are -

1. The distance and online education courses were run without UGC approval; in collaboration with private, profit making entities (doesn't matter if the partners were govt or non-profit)

2. The conniving Univ faculty/staff misled and kept the AC and EC in the dark

3. That the matter came to light when students in regular courses (read SJA) produced the evidence of wrongdoing and connivance before the AC and EC which directed the Univ to suspend such courses.

4. However for unknown reasons despite such directions in early May 2018, the Univ (through the AR Academic) uploaded a notice only towards end-June 2018. During this time, the Univ apparently kept collecting admission fees et al from new candidates.

5. Repeated calls and emails to the Univ authorities (VC, Registrar, AM and AR Academic) have had not yielded any response (typical Talukdar way of doing things)

6. Aggrieved distance education students demand that at a minimum NUJS should refund their money. But NUJS authorities remain tight-lipped

7. The former SJA President has been quoted as having said that the as and when the Univ refunds the money to distance education students, it should recover the same from guilty officials (this point was made in the SJA petitions as well)

8. The reporter had sought comments from Lord Taluk and Registrar. But they did not respond (as expected)

Unless you are one of those conniving fellows, I don't see the report being half-baked. But I agree the vernacular press should do more detailed stories on the mess at NUJS..the full monty perhaps?

Big developments expected next few days!!

Here is the list of VC applicants according to a source. Can anyone verify if it is true? There is some uncertainty over whether the 65 years age limit is extendable.

1. Prof NK Chakrabarti from KIIT (ex-CU)
2. Prof SS Chatterjee from Heritage Law College, Kolkata (ex-CU HOD)
3. Prof JK Das, HOD, CU Law department
4. Prof Bhrigu Nath Pandey, Dean, School of Law, Adamas University, Kolkata (ex-HOD, BHU)
5. Prof Rathin Bandopadhyay, HOD, North Bengal University Law department
6. Prof Gangotri Chakraborty, Professor, North Bengal University Law department
7. Prof Sanjeev Kumar Tiwari, Professor and HOD, Burdwan University Department of Law
8. Prof Ali Mehdi from BHU (ex-North Bengal)
9. Prof Sukhpal Singh Yadav (ex-HNLU VC)
10. Prof SS Singh (ex-NLIU VC)
11. Prof Madhu Sudan Dash, HOD, Utkal University Department of Law
12. Prof JS Patil, VC, NLU Assam
13. Prof K I Vibhute, ex-HOD, Pune University Law faculty

Please disinvite Timur the Lame from future IDG events. Thanks.

This photo sums up a lot.

[img]https://i.imgflip.com/2pa7jn.jpg[/img]

This is just in. The VC has apparently confessed to some close members of the Justice League that none of the inquiries he has been running is going anywhere because of lack of evidence and legal wrongdoing and he may even advise the new VC to phase them out or drop them altogether once the SJA is appeased by sops close to exam like last-minute attendance etc. We all knew this was going to happen eventually anyway.

NKC and SSC are likely to be the final two contenders for VC. Govt will be happy with any of them.

According to a well placed state government official, MKS is now the new hot favorite after he came to Kolkatta and met the CM and law minister. The minister may even get changed in the next couple of weeks and that may ease the pressure for additional campuses and domicile quota.

Today Arjun Agarwal has again written an article (in the Statesman) saying that the amendment bill is unconstitutional and also criticising Amit Talukdar . I would like to know why he did not previously call for a judicial challenge to the bill and why he previously spoke out in favour of Talukdar.

You mean this https://www.thestatesman.com/supplements/law/legislating-%C2%91national%C2%92-nujs-1502717828.html

Hey Guest (in various avatars) are you the relevant faculty most affected by the stoppage of distance education courses? I wonder why you have not made yourself heard by the University authorities and also the EC...why not square off with Justice Arun Mishra there?

Or better still since you think that students, especially a rather particular former SJA President followed neither law or logic why not help the aggrieved students swarm the EC on Dec 22?

Do you know you plead a lot? Why not do something instead of being a keyboard warrior? You know the Kolkata-based students of distance education. Get them and the media to storm the campus and EC on Dec 22.

But will you?

5 big announcements will be made tomorrow: 1) NKC will be the new VC. 2) AKP will be the Registrar. 3) Domicile quota comes into effect. 4) Second campus in Anansol. 5) Fee reduction.

An information blackout is being exercised against Legally India. If there is any scoop it will go to timid media like Bar & Bench.

In a shocking move the acting CJ has stayed the BJP rath yatra decision. Questions must be asked why the govt was in a hurry to set up the VC selection committee when the acting CJ just has a 3 month term, instead wait for a new CJ.

Nothing will happen unless NLSIU students approach the SC and demand National status for NLUs.

UPDATE: SJA concerns ignored yet again by powers that be.

Search committee selected the new VC today within the short time. Name has been submitted to the honourable Chancellor who will confirm it and send it back to be opened at next EC meeting end January or early February. SS Chatterjee is the new VC for NUJS, as predicted. God save the place now!

[img]https://i.imgflip.com/2plf7d.jpg[/img]

Here is what can be done by the SJA now:

1. Go to the Chancellor and claim process was arbitrary (like NLIU and RMNLU students did).

2. Go to the media: national papers and local papers + news channels + online media like the Wire

3. Reach out to Menon, Chimni and MP Singh for a statement of support.

4. Alumni petition.

5. Request NLSIU students for support.

6. Tie up with all NLUs and file a PIL on the NationaliseNLUs issue. Request a temporary stay on all quotas until the government and SC can clarify the status of NLUs vis-a-vis IIMs and IITs.

7. Declare flat out war against the AG and government. State in writing that the AG has engaged in unethical conduct.

So, the media is reporting that JGLS has been shortlisted for Eminence status (to be finalised soon) while NLUs are subject to all sorts of repressive rules and regulations, and also controlled by state governments. The Indian government must answer how this can be possible.

[quote]Some prominent private institutes which made it to the list include VIT Vellore, Shiv Nadar University, Azim Premji University,Ashoka University and OP Jindal Global University.
[/quote]

https://www.duexpress.in/delhi-university-among-24-institutes-recommended-for-institute-of-eminence-tag/.

What a pathetic show by the SJA. Other NLUs went on hunger strike and marches to get their demands met. All the SJA did was use silly hashtags and email petitions. Bhat could carry on for 7 years and Taimur for 7 months because of this. For over 1 month the SJA knew about the amendment Act and the plan to install a Mamata chela as VC. Yet, the SJA continued the silly tactic of hashtags and petitions. Even now, the sham VC selection can be questioned before Gogoi seals it and makes it irreversible. A hunger strike like HNLU and NLIU can be called to put pressure on Gogoi to send back the recommendation for SSC. Yet, the SJA still thinks a Twitter/Facebook protest is the answer!

[img]https://i.imgur.com/NuAqEYh.png[/img]

[img]https://i.imgur.com/17wagux.png[/img]

[img]https://i.imgur.com/7eNPOUq.png[/img]

[img]https://i.imgur.com/bOjrPEm.png[/img]

It's heartening to see that there is an increasing number questioning our own failure to #OmitTalukdar #SikhaSentPacking. It is no more important at this stage whether SJA is ineffective or full of keyboard warriors. Also let's acknowledge certain embarrassing realities -

1. The 5th yrs are graduating soon and have secured job offers. The 4th yrs have a year to go. From a "batch perspective" they have little interest in what happens next to NUJS

2. Many 1st yrs may actually find it more meaningful to sit for CLAT again; AILET et al; lose a year and join somewhere better. NUJS is on a downward spiral and it is better to jump a sinking ship right now.

3. 2nd and 3rd years, especially the former are the ones who will face the brunt. They are stuck badly. A lot more was expected of them. But the low GB turnout meant that SJA was neither pummelled nor provided the ballast.

4. Since SJA is a keyboard warrior at the very least I am sure it emailed alumni. I guess after the first edition of #PIBOut failed, alumni interest faded. They probably realized something that we didn't or haven't thus far -

if the state govt wants someone to stay, s/he does. As it happened with PIB or in JU which keeps getting cited as a model for protest action. But for the political build up at the state-level, Dukhpal would have stayed on at HNLU. And we are not sure whether a Taluk is in the works there.

5. That few in the alumni care is evidenced by the fact that we had an alumni reunion on Dec 22. If reports are to be believed, none had any meaningful interest in university affairs. More importantly, they had prior information and opportunity to do whatever little they could (or would) before the EC. But that didn't happen. So let's just dial down on what the alumni can or will do.

6. A lot is being said about approaching the Chancellor. Chances are that he was not consulted by the state while legislating the Amendment. And he is seemingly fine with that. Or maybe he was consulted privately and his tacit silence meant that state was free to legislate.

Let's do this ourselves or have the SJA file RTI queries to the Chancellor whether he was formally consulted by the state govt et al? Also has the SJA approached his office and if yes, what has he done about it?

I mean no disrespect to the Chancellor but maybe as with the alumni, just doesn't care.

7. Do we even know what was on the EC agenda on Dec 22? Very likely that the Amendment issue was not even mentioned for discussion and the CJI nominee did not even bring it up. If we can have a confirmation on this can we pipe down on the Chancellor or his nominee in the EC/GC intervening to save us?

8. I strongly suspect that Taluk will be bestowed the honour by the state to stay on till the Convocation. I also believe than an attempt will be made to get the CM and the top political brass of the state in that Convocation.

Having graduated, the 2017 Batch may not care anymore why they had participated in whatever little capacity to dislodge PIB in 2016 and later in 2018. But what about us? Suppose the SJA proposes that the current the batches will boycott or hold eyeball catching protests during the Convocations, will they get unanimous or majority support?

F**k SJA, now that I have floated the balloon, will we do this with or without the SJA?

9. Lord Taluk and Justice League will play good cop, bad cop with us. This strategy has had a good kill rate (may explain the low turnout in the GB). With a strong feedback and tracking system in place via a set of student collaborators, I expect a more vigorous roll out. As they say we are only as strong as our weakest link.

10. The state doesn't want "outsiders". It actually wants people to leave NUJS. I cannot be the only looney conspiracy theorist when I see how faculty and research positions are being hollowed out; quality candidates from "outside" being clearly signalled not to apply for VC, Registrar et al positions; and how decks are being cleared to pack in regime friendly folks.

NUJS is not alone in accommodating 'committed' apparatchiks. Look at HC. And for more on independence of judiciary, we have examples in Taluk; a limitless Ray of political crudeness; someone who should have spread light (but did the reverse in Court and at NUJS) and another who is truly blessed by the (political) Gods for having successfully transitioned to Greener pastures.

The stark reality is this- we have a hostile EC with an agenda of its own; self-serving and parasitic faculty/admin staff; mostly disinterested and risk-averse alumni (on issues that currently affect the university); and salivating, opportunistic academic administrators.

In Jan 2019 we have to choose between what is right and what is easy. I have chosen easy for obvious reasons. But will you choose differently?

Wikipedia already declared SSC as VC.

[img]https://i.ibb.co/cXZ5MJJ/Screenshot-2018-12-23-at-8-44-52-PM.png[/img]

Regarding the allegations against alumni, I wish to make a few points:

1. Up until 4 or 5 years ago, alumni were very interested in college affairs. Take a look at the petition against PIB (which the SJA did not submit). Alumni across the world, cutting across batches and branch of practice, signed it. Alumni also lectured regularly and helped with internships.

2. For the past few years, interest has waned for a number of reasons:

i) As PIB grew more and more power-hungry, he kept alumni out.

ii) PIB's cronies prevented alumni from lecturing on the ground that they lacked an LLM or PhD. This was even though one-off lectures on practical topics were sought. Furthermore, some of the people actually held these degrees and even held teaching positions abroad. Also, a proposal for short courses had come from JGLS but it was stipulated that JGLS profs could not distribute brochures for JGLS LLM programmes, which they did not agree to because other NLUs did not stipulate this. They had offered to teach without any compensation and felt that they should be allowed to distribute the brochures.

iii) Meanwhile, PIB's cronies lied and told the alumni that the STUDENTS had opposed alumni teaching. That students had said that the alumni were not qualified and did not want them to give guest lectures. The cronies also spread rumours that the students are arrogant etc. A vicious lie was spread that a student had made a lewd remark to a female alumni guest lecturer. This was NOT TRUE and the lady herself can confirm it. It was just a regular case of a student sleeping in class and getting scolded for it. The alumni got upset at these fake rumours.

I am not defending the alumni. Please go ahead and accuse them of lack of interest, selfishness etc. But just bear in mind the full facts and decide about whether you wish to involve them as once used to be the case, or whether you would prefer to keep them out. Thanks.

A lot of anti-SJA comments here are from vested interests in the admin trying to sabotage protests and divide the students. These comments are being upvoted by this gang. Kindly ignore these people and their poisonous agenda.

This is what Chief Justice Manjula Chellur had to say about Prof SS Chatterjee in connection with a case of irregularities in admission. I wonder how this can be brought to Justice Gogoi's attention.

[quote]From the above discussion, it is clear the appellant/contemnor who was fully aware of the order and resorted to various methods to avoid implementing the same to the prejudice of the writ petitioner thereby to render the writ petition infructuous. If the appellant felt the order was illegal which had been passed on incorrect submissions, it was open to him to seek appropriate relief in the form of appeal, or review etc. against such order. Instead of choosing such course of action, he refused to comply with the order and is presently setting up the aforesaid pleas which are wholly untenable in contempt jurisdiction. Such state of affairs make it evident that conduct of the appellant is not at all bona fide and accordingly we are of the view that the learned Single Judge had rightly held that the appellant had willfully and deliberately violated the order passed by the Court and was guilty of contempt. With regard to the imposition of cost it has been argued that there is no jurisdiction in the Court to impose cost in contempt proceeding. Power to impose cost is inherent in the Court, particularly in the High Court while exercising its plenary jurisdiction under Article 215 of the Constitution of India. On that score also the order cannot be faulted. The appellant ought to consider himself lucky that in addition to cost, fine or other penalty was not impose on him by the learned Single Judge by way of punishment. In the light of aforesaid reasons, the appeal is dismissed and the judgment and order of the learned Single Judge is upheld.
[/quote]

https://indiankanoon.org/doc/160319901/

@Neutral Party I have read these points before and I agree PIB and his cronies deliberately shooed away alumni and engineered faculty exodus. Lord Taluk has been doing the same thing; interestingly with the aid of Justice League who suffer severe insecurity issues. It is like we are stuck in a loop.

Also I am sorry if alumni felt offended by my comments. Not intended. It is entirely possible that many are working behind the scenes. In my comments I wanted to highlight that there has not been any overt act of intervention or resistance by alumni. For example, Batch 2017 which is going to have its Convocation in Feb 2019; a majority or a significant number could have very well declined to receive their degrees with Talukdar as VC. They still can or can even do so publicly on the stage itself. Then again, my own batch wouldn't nor will I engage in a creative act of protest.

You may fault me for being a keyboard warrior because I don't have the guts to come out. I am conflicted. I am a coward. But I will engage in weak forms of resistance hoping that soon enough the psychological barrier will be breached.

I don't know what SJA will do or others who are bolder. I will pray that their efforts against Lord Taluk succeed. Possibly a little dramatic to tag this quote to those who are putting up an overt resistance but I was very much taken in by it (and the movie Valkyrie - highly recommended)

"You did not bear the shame
You resisted
Sacrificing your life
For freedom, justice and honour"

- German Resistance Memorial, Berlin

The faculty and their chosen pets whether bound by blood or other considerations can come up with a zillion reasons (aka excuses) why the faculty cannot protest but I will not deny credit that is due to SJA Prez and Veep as also a ex-Prez for overtly doing what the faculty and alumni have collectively avoided with deadly deliberateness.

Mamata Banerjee has commented today that students in Bengal lack opportunities to study law, so St Xavier's College Calcutta should be congratulated on its decision to start a law school. This raises the question of why NUJS needs to be burdened with a domicile quota if Xavier's is starting a law school.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/education/news/govt-to-allow-students-switch-universities-under-cbcs/articleshow/67231761.cms

Corrupt admin/faculty are posting here pretending to be students and defaming the SJA and GB. Please ignore the fake news and fake comments spread by these jokers. They are trying to divide and discourage the students. We will unite and protest.

These may explain why SXC or SXUK is a political favourite

https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-kolkata-cbi-summons-st-xavier-s-principal-felix-raj-in-connection-with-rose-valley-chit-fund-scam-2289583

https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/will-return-rose-valley-group-s-sponsorship-money-kolkata-college-117051100940_1.html

http://www.millenniumpost.in/kolkata/learn-from-st-xaviers-cm-tells-ju-332914

BREAKING NEWS: A top source claims that the CJI has approved the selection committee's nominee for VC. The puppet VC will take charge as the next VC of NUJS next month, occupying the chair once held by Menon, Chimni and MP Singh. NUJS will now officially become MUJS (Mamata University of Judicial Sciences). Merry Christmas everyone!

The lack of unity among NLU students and alumni, whether inter-NLU unity or intra-NLU unity, will be their downfall. When IIT- IIM students and alumni can unite and form powerful pan IIT-IIM bodies, why should NLU students and alumni have such giant-sized egos?

NUJS students must emulate the Jadavpur University protests. Those students successfully resisted Mamata's interference yet kept their reputation and placements intact. In fact, JU was among the 11 Institutions of Eminence recommended by the Gopalaswami Committee and will be formally declared an IOE once the full list of 20 is declared.

Yes we may consider going the JU way to make ourselves heard. But those suggesting this model forget certain essential points -

1. JU has a long history of having highly radicalised/politicised student politics. I am not suggesting that it is bad or good. It has been a two-way process whereby a certain institutional equilibrium has been achieved wherein highly politicised student politics co-exists with the rest of the set up. That equilibrium is sought to be reset in favour of the ruling party.

2. It is not just the students, many in the faculty are also overtly political. That's another area of reset that the ruling party wishes to effect.

3. JU has a long history of run-ins with police (including violent ones); aggressive posturing; hunger strikes; civil disobedience etc. In that sense the institution, faculty and students are battle hardened and have the capacity to sustain a long play of brinkmanship

4. In the most recent edition, once the students began hunger strike, a significant section of the faculty openly joined the student protests. That's when things really turned in favour of the students.

5. Also please note the sympathetic, continuous and consistent media coverage that JU students got in the local media- print and electronic.That could also be a function of several JU alumni working the the press. Essentially protesting JU students did a great media outreach and extensively pulled in contacts across departments and batches.

Let us or SJA not end in a situation such as the one depicted wickedly in Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Ma6tU587vw

Blaring on the PA system https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uEZl-YvhPg

At the same time NUJS gets a TMC stooge as its new VC, IIM Calcutta gets a new Director who is a distinguished alum and a professor in the US, who has returned to India to take up the job. This shows you the difference the status of Institutions of National Importance can make.

https://www.ndtv.com/education/iim-calcutta-first-woman-director-takes-charge-at-iim-calcutta-1948691

I totally agree that the faculty are useless. Hereon we may charitably call them FAULTY at/of NUJS. JU faculty have internal fights and more recently it came out quite openly. Yet when it came to breaking point a significant section held true to the anti-authoritarian roots of JU. Since there is much talk of taking action against Lord Taluk, his friends in the EC and blah blah; why not start with the FAULTY? Without exceptions. I mean what can they threaten us with - will not take classes or resignations? ROFL. Successive batches have been sleepwalking to individual successes despite the FAULTY.

To return back to JU, here is some more stuff to chew on -

https://www.hindustantimes.com/education/expert-panel-recommends-12-institutions-for-eminence-status/story-vfO5TfTNmCg3ckdLuW0mRO.html

[NB: Even KIIT has been recommended for IoE status!! Also note that sectoral excellence is also being recognised. Pretty sure NLSIU, NALSAR and maybe even NLUD will make it eventually]

https://www.telegraphindia.com/states/west-bengal/jadavpur-university-prestige-swells-with-grant/cid/1675923

https://www.ndtv.com/education/jadvapur-university-only-state-varsity-in-east-to-have-got-full-autonomy-vice-chancellor-1826975

[Despite the VC being a state govt puppet and the fights, JU secured category I autonomy from UGC and also the the prestigious grant. Compare this with PIB and Taluk administrations and it underlines the worthlessness of FAULTY)

https://www.telegraphindia.com/states/west-bengal/eye-on-eminence-tag-as-ju-shield/cid/1420689

[The controversial "legal counsel" was tailor made under state education minister instructions by none other than our AG - the legal eagle beyond compare. Prefers seeing and suing people in Court]

https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/kolkata/jadavpur-university-teachers-slam-govt-plan-to-gag-them-5141859/

[In JU, faculty are actually paid salaries by the state govt at state pay scales. In NUJS, the FAULTY are paid generous central scales from our fees. I wonder whether it is lack of spine or Gollum syndrome. Rather particular and Sensible folks have told me and others that the entire point of making FAULTY and the admin staff "permanent" was to empower them to work without fear or favour. But all I see are leeches]

I know BD doesn't exactly inspire reading History. But please read up on IIMs; the origin stories and why they are beginning to have trouble with IIM Act 2017, including IIM Calcutta, with the MHRD/UGC. Yes, that includes the recent hire at IIM Calcutta.

IIMs (the initial trio) were set up by the Govt of India in close collaboration with American business schools, state governments and private sector. IIM Calcutta actually got angel funded by the Ford Foundation. To ensure autonomy and flexibility they were registered under Societies Registration Act. so things have always worked differently in IIMs, which is actually now under threat despite the IIM Act 2017 touting increased autonomy. One big reason, the older IIMs often win against the Govt is due to their brand, alumni and industry support. You will see the difference when it comes to the newer lot that mushroomed in recent years.

I seriously doubt that SJA or its supporters have ever advocated for a pedantic compliance with UGC Rules. Having read through their submissions (will admit, quite a few) and heard them in GB and elsewhere, the SJA has only demanded transparency concerning rules and application.

For example, NUJS has clearly violated UGC rules on distance education. We are not IIT/IIM, whose establishment rules always allowed them to operate differently. More importantly, IIMs and other reputable institutions running distance education courses make it clear that they have no UGC approval and actually pay GST. NUJS hasn't done that.

On the issue of faculty recruitments. Quite a few UGC rules don't make sense. Despite the hoopla on NET, I don't understand how acquiring that or having LLM/PhD makes one a good teacher. I am sure it troubles others too because the URC made a specific point concerning these issues.

I believe that SJA has simply highlighted that PIB and his buddies have selectively applied UGC rules to favour/disfavour certain people. SJA has not advocated blind adherence to UGC. Actually they have suggested that if NUJS and students were to profit by diverging from a nonsensical UGC rule then univ authorities should take that up with UGC but also write down a policy that transparently sets down why and how departures from UGC rules will be made.

Are you suggesting that SJA should not have reported against arbitrariness, corruption and favouritism which have actually caused financial and academic losses?

As we allow our university to slip into greater govt control here is what we expect from them. I am pretty sure emboldened by our inaction and indecisiveness as also insider help, the govt will move more amendments into NUJS Act, which would be on the lines of what are mentioned below -

http://wbhed.gov.in/readwrite/uploads/wbuniversitiesadministrationandregulationact2017.pdf

https://www.telegraphindia.com/states/west-bengal/new-hiring-norm-for-varsities/cid/1415094

https://www.telegraphindia.com/states/west-bengal/speech-fetters-in-draft-rules/cid/1415000

http://wbhed.gov.in/readwrite/uploads/wbuniversitiesadministrationandregulationact2017.pdf

Those who think SSC as VC is nothing to worry about, please visit a Facebook page called Heritage Law Confessions, with gossip about the college he currently heads (Heritage Law College). You will shudder and wish for PIB to return.


https://www.facebook.com/pg/heritagelawconfession/

Multiple people in the faculty are saying that SSC's has been sent to the Chancellor and he has approved it orally, with a written order coming soon. It seems that the AG pushed for him, and the Acting CJ strongly agreed (on his last day of work and following a string of pro-govt orders). Justice Mishra did not want to be an obstacle, so he approved it with just minor critical remarks. Unlike other NLUs, names and API scores were not disclosed and the SJA did not pre-emptively protest the selection process (unlike NLIU and RMLNLU). Thus, it is time to be realistic and accept SSC. Think ahead now, what's done is done.

I wouldn't know if the SJA selectively went after FAULTY. This is how I read it - they had clear evidence against a section of the FAULTY and they acted on it. I guess the litmus test will be what will the SJA do if solid evidence is presented against other FAULTY privately or in a GB.

I just want to underline that there are limits to what SJA can do. The EC gladly allowed SJA space because it wanted PIB gone. Now the EC wants Lord Taluk to stay and an equally wretched or worse replacement will follow (unless we do something). I don't know what happened in the EC on Dec 22 but time is running out.

Taking out SSC and then getting saddled with an XYZ is like walking in circles. Instead we should do something that make the state back off and let us be. The state needs people inside the University to drive its agenda. Right now it has Lord Taluk, the Registrar and the parasitic FAULTY.

As suggested by someone, we #OmitTalukdar, #SikhaSentPacking and #OccupyNUJS. The FAULTY as usual will wait out and at the opportune time some will wave V, give meaningless pep talk, hug us and other BS.

As an existing student of NUJS, I find these anonymous comments in Legally India targeting students, SJA and the faculty and spewing venom, to be deeply disturbing. It is true that we are going through difficult times now on multiple fronts. So are a lot of other law schools. We rarely see the comments section of posts involving them to contain such squabbles. There's no way of knowing who writes them, existing students, faculty, admin or outsiders with vested interests. I agree that we do not have an ideal scene here. Some members of the faculty are certainly responsible for that, as are some students, present and ex. But this deliberate attempt to tar everybody with the same brush is despicable and meant to create further strife. We still have students who genuinely want the best for the institution and work extremely hard to achieve it. We also have faculty members who help the students in whatever ways they can and often even go out of their way trying to do it. Just like most other NLUs, I'm sure. All the people involved have their own limitations and constraints under which they operate. One should respect that and try to work together, rather than engage in this venom-spewing. A forum like Legally India and its policy of allowing anonymous comments and failure to moderate comments properly just fan the already existing strife and achieve very little positive goal. People here talk about other institutions where faculty and students, despite multiple differences, still come together when the institute is threatened. In order for that to happen, one should perhaps start with desisting blame gaming and instead try to work together, respecting mutual opinion. People who work and study here are no different from those in most other NLUs. However, I've rarely seen such vitriolic posts and mud-slinging attempts in other posts. If people from within the institute are commenting here, I would urge them to reconsider their action, because it is achieving nothing other than further breakdown of relationships, perhaps irretrievably. If it is outsiders, then obviously they don't have institutional well being as an motivation anyway, so I doubt anything I say will sway then in any case.

Friends the risk of getting a TMC / Govt stooge is too great now. We should therefore unite and forward the following internal candidates all of whom are capable of being the next VC.

[b]1st choice is Poddar Sir. [/b]

+VE Factor

He is Bangali
He has practical empathy for plagiarism since he also did it
He has many faces so if you dont like the one on a day he show you another one
He has liberal attitude in class by playing audio tape of his own recorded lecture

-VE Factor

[...]

[b]2nd choice [/b]

Tillotama maam

+VE Factor

She has liberal attitude to class by not taking anyy (Grukool system)
She has track record of special collaboration with students [...]
She [...] that her exams are very easy
She is Bangali

-VE Factor

[...]
heavy [...] in her thesis (like 55%, 2% more than Poddar sir)

3rd choice

[b]Anupama Mam[/b]

+VE Factor

She is close to Trinamul
She does not believe in taking class
She is Bangali

-VE Factor

[...]
She knows more law than political science

BIG NEWS: The Jadavpur University has VC rejected a domicile quota proposal by the Mamata govt, saying that domicile quota cannot be imposed as JU is seeking Institute of Eminence status. In contrast, Talukdar approved it, despite being an acting VC. NUJS students really need to do a big protest now.

https://www.telegraphindia.com/states/west-bengal/jadavpur-university-shelves-domicile-quota-plan/cid/1680074

Interestingly, the SJA stated in its "position paper" that "very soon NUJS will turn into another Jadavpur University." Well guess what you morons, JU is much better than NUJS because it has rejected domicile quota and is likely to get Eminence status (it was in the first list, along with IIT KGP, IIT M, DU and Anna University). To add insult to injury, JGLS may end up getting Eminence status in the second list, as no NLU has applied for it.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/nujs-students-prepare-report-against-domicile-quota-decision/articleshow/66744420.cms,

[img]https://i.imgflip.com/2puo7o.jpg[/img]

[img]https://i.imgur.com/PguDeKR.png[/img]

Oh I wish we were as ballsy as JU right now.

Here is what they did in 2014 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Jadavpur_University_protests

Also why can we not have this? https://www.ndtv.com/kolkata-news/anarchy-at-kolkatas-famous-presidency-university-over-hostel-protest-1915110

There is little to be gained by scoring points against the SJA. When the time comes to change the leadership, please do. Until then, can we have have some unity on throwing out Lord Taluk and the Registrar, the two principal agents of the state in NUJS? That will send out a strong message to the state govt folks to stop f*****g around, starting with the VC selection.

I hope the SJA will call a GB soon after the university reopens. We should also ensure that majority attend the GB; demand answers from SJA and be ready to participate in the agreed plan of action. Else we are no better than FAULTY.

Based on what has been written here and campus talk, this is how I see it -

1. This is primarily our fight. Alumni assistance is welcome. But let's get real about the actual level of support. Four oldies are in the faculty and two (or is it three?) have permanent tenure in the University. What have they done? And I have not even included the ones who did their LLMs/PhDs here. A batch had its reunion on Dec 22 and Batch 2017 is all set to receive their degrees from Lord Taluk.

2. Similarly lets dial down our expectations from Professors Menon, Chimni and MP Singh. None of them did anything during the ruinous tenure of PIB, why should they do anything now? And they haven't. No op-eds, nothing.

3. The CJI has little time for us. His nominee, Justice Arun Mishra seemingly has no issues with the Amendment Bill. Maybe both had been privately consulted by the state govt before the amendments were moved? Calcutta HC is unlikely to act against its own and the recent history inspires little confidence. A new ACJ has come in. Maybe one should check whether he is willing to act differently.

4. The state nominees in the EC will brazen this out because they can. And we have not been able to do anything meaningful thus far. It no longer matters what the SJA could have done. Let's concentrate on what can be done, realistically. And that begins with a honest and brutal assessment of what we are individually willing to stake in this fight.

5. This fight or lack of one will define us and NUJS forever. While it is important that we carefully structure and define our demands, more important than that will be our commitment to get those. Are we willing to go the distance?

6. We need to do things differently. Please note that this EC has seen what we did (or did not) during #PIBOut. So they are ready and counter intuitively would very much want us to agitate on those lines.

7. We have upset status quo. Strong push backs are expected. We need to stop playing or responding to the rules set by the powers that be. Petitions, appeals and protests have had their run. The authorities are ready. So we need to surprise them through creative modes of protest.

The SJA found out that the admin staff have been paid crores in overpayments. They have alleged in their EC petition that a lot of politics is being played around and this is a problem that has been allowed to fester by PIB and now Lord Taluk. This has also been pointed out in the articles penned by a former SJA President. Why is Lord Taluk blatantly blocking action on stoppage and recovery of overpayments; PN Sinha Inquiry Report recommendations; irregularities in faculty recruitment; UGC and FCRA violation; and driving us into the arms of the state govt??

Why can we not have something like this? https://www.telegraphindia.com/states/west-bengal/visva-bharati-stops-staff-overpay/cid/1679775

We have only been concentrating on Lord Taluk and FAULTY. What about admin staff? We all know how the accounts and academic sections function. And let's not even start on the people working in the offices of Lord Taluk and the Registrar.

Some shameless chelas of the admin/govt are posting against the SJA and downvoting any comments calling for protests. I request everyone to counter this and vote correctly on the comments.

This is in response to many avatars of Guest 106.1.1 and 111.1

I agree that students are being myopic; as with the FAULTY many (if not most) are self-serving and that we have messed up. But you have got certain things wrong. PIB may have quietly lobbied for the CNLU position but once CNLU students protested he would have remained here. Please note that in 2016, powerful people brokered a deal whereby he was given a second term despite SJA. It was a situation similar to this when SJA had literally no support in the EC. What many (including) never understood then and even now is why the EC suddenly supported the SJA in kicking out PIB; simple because key members in the EC felt that they were scammed by PIB who had no intention or capacity to deliver on the political deal.

I am not advocating that we should mollycoddle the SJA. By all means, please pummell SJA in the GB that is assuming we will have a meaningful turnout. But as and when we demand action from SJA, we should ground it in facts and reality. We shouldn't lash out just because some of us may have personal issues with XYZ.

Some have suggested that we should use velvet gloves to manage the fragile egos of the delicate darlings called alumni. I am sure many in the alumni wouldn't want such a treatment but those are likely in the minority. I am not sure if the law firms are necessarily touchier about their reputations. JU students, especially the engineering folks have often been in the news for campus violence, hazing, bullying, sexual harassment and aggressive political posturing. And yet JU has never faced a dearth of campus placements. In contrast it has been debated that if the state interference and politicisation had been less, JU would have done even better.

I am sure most managements will have a preference for the docile, malleable, risk-averse, goody-two-shoes variety. And being one is definitely profitable. I mean Chatur was doing great yet many rooted for the 3 Idiots. Why are you so ready to crawl when you haven't been asked to even bend? Abdication of spine isn't always great - many FAULTY are a great example of that.

You may keep spewing platitudes on how we should debate in a civil and educated manner and blah blah. Just because you or Lord Taluk & Co. demands doesn't mean we have to oblige. Call us what you may but we will do everything that is necessary and doable to evict these squatters from our campus.

I strongly suspect that you are part of Lord Taluk & Co. because no student has actually seen what the Judicial Secy wrote on the DEO overpayments issue. Some may have heard piecemeal stuff. First, please show the written communications between the University, Judicial Secy and FC on this issue. Second, please show that Judicial Secy did not opine in his personal capacity. Thirdly, why don't we RTI on this issue? SJA, are you listening?

The big villains here are Advocate General Datta and Taimur. Datta's appointment as AG was very controversial in the first place, as he is a relatively little-known lawyer . Two very eminent lawyers occupied the post before him, but both resigned after opposing Mamata's policies. As for Taimur, less said the better. Any protest should openly criticise the AG and Taimur and force them to be confronted by the media.

@Guest 114.1 you are right, I am a keyboard warrior, hypocrite, coward, rabble rouser, uncouth, blah blah. But you are not, right? So why are you hiding behind an alias? What's your spiel, know-it-all, goody-two-shoes? Continue playing footsie with Lord Taluk & Co.

@Guest 115, you have only mentioned the usual suspects. These links may give you further leads on the other players.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/advocate-general-puts-in-papers/articleshow/57028211.cms

https://www.news18.com/news/india/west-bengal-ag-quits-saying-he-was-asked-to-bend-the-law-1346218.html

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/i-resigned-to-keep-my-spine-firm-says-bengals-former-advocate-general/articleshow/57213834.cms

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/cant-work-if-team-breaks-down-a-g-addnl-a-g-submit-resignations-to-governor-keshari-nath-tripathi-4513035/

https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/law-officer-quits-police-officer-shifted-mitra-leaves-amid-talk-of-sniping/cid/332502

I support the 5 demands in the #NUJSHungerStrike poster. The students should stage a silent protest in front of the Cal HC holding the poster, and also distribute the pamphlets to the lawyers. Alternatively, this can be replaced with a nationwide #NationaliseNLUs protest in front of all HCs and the SC, where same status as IIT and IIM is demanded. Maybe the second option will be better. It will get attention in media throughout India and pressure Gogoi to speak up.

The PA system has revealed that Lord Taluk has been instructed by his master's voice in the government to take the strictest action against any student showing any form of organised protest or dissent once the sem starts and new VC's name is announced just before the convo. Same for any dissent on convo day itself when the CM is likely to come down.

Report from the Telegraph:

[img]https://i.imgur.com/ZaC9hNg.png[/img]

Will there be M****t Questions" in the Convocation?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPOn9Ldb9IQ

Oh well those guys got snuffed out. CM has Cersei on speed dial.

But this can be a likely situation in NUJS if the CM or a party honcho comes for the Convocation.

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/maharashtra-student-alleges-education-minister-vinod-tawde-ordered-his-arrest-minister-denies/articleshow/67416484.cms?utm_source=Colombia&utm_medium=C1&utm_campaign=CTN_ET_hp&utm_content=18

Don't believe me?

https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/arrested-for-questioning-mamata/cid/389090

https://www.firstpost.com/politics/mamata-vs-the-farmer-be-afraid-very-afraid-416119.html

So do we go the JU or CU way?

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/cm-mamata-banerjee-criticizes-student-politics-at-jadavpur-university-presidency/articleshow/67433612.cms

https://www.telegraphindia.com/states/west-bengal/mamata-praise-for-old-values-calcutta-university-barbs-for-presidency-and-jadavpur-university/cid/1681162

You are right. While NUJS slumbers this is what makes JU so memorable for CM

https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/nation/story/20160912-jadavpur-university-kolkata-mamata-banerjee-tmc-829505-2016-09-01

While NUJS students run scared, this is what JU did

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/30000-march-in-rain-to-seek-Jadavpur-VCs-scalp/articleshow/43033605.cms

And it made the nephew come to aid of aunty (https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/nandygram/abhishek-banerjee-comes-to-mamata-auntys-rescue-by-trying-to-discredit-ju-students-movement/)

And the usual set of dirty tricks

https://www.dailypioneer.com/2016/india/didis-men-divided-over-presidency-ju-culture.html

https://www.telegraphindia.com/states/west-bengal/jadavpur-vc-drug-remark-on-girl/cid/1581412


If not the CM then this enfant terrible as Chief Guest in the Convocation

https://www.hindustantimes.com/kolkata/the-rise-of-abhishek-banerjee-mamata-s-foul-mouthed-nephew/story-GW7OLwe2Nq8T9Vtj3jNSVP.html

Friends, please support our call for the #NUJSHungerStrike and pressure everyone to join.

[img]https://i.imgur.com/bOjrPEm.png[/img]

So, is NUJS ripe for a government takeover?

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/body-to-adopt-colleges-varsities-keep-them-up-to-date/articleshow/67532302.cms

No wonder Taluk & Co are so keen to get CM or one of the party honchos as the Chief Guest. We are such wimps for continuing with Taluk.

But what do you do when the HC is compromised. Two recent CJs seem to have deliberately ignored Justice Chelameswar's caution concerning bonhomie between judiciary and government

https://barandbench.com/bonhomie-between-judiciary-and-government-sounds-the-death-knell-to-democracy-chelameswar-j-in-letter-to-cji/

Guess this is what happens when they found that grass is actually Greener on the other side.

And then we have so many party stooges and beneficiaries in our faculty ranks to help the government. But as they go about s******g students, will they survive this?

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/governments-attendance-lens-on-students-teachers/articleshow/67451285.cms

What about calling out the creeps, moral policing and inaction on our campus? https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/jadavpur-university-professor-kanak-sarkars-remark-on-virginity-incurs-students-fury-1978216?pfrom=home-topstories

@ Guest 123.1 - Things are going on expected lines. Why does the SJA make demands that it cannot enforce?

Our university has not been able to organise proper hostel accomodation till date, often resorting to tripling. Now what? https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/25-hike-in-college-varsity-seats-to-allow-centres-weaker-section-quota-1978175?pfrom=home-topscroll

Two minutes silence for all those who expected the current lot of NUJS students to gather some courage and protest.

In other news, the Search Comm has not yet confirmed the new VC reco nor sent it to the CJI for approval. All other rumours to the contrary are baseless. It is unlikely that the name will be announced before convocation is due. Certainly the new guy isn't gonna take charge this sem.

This is what JU does https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/kolkata-jadavpur-university-professor-kanak-sarkar-who-said-virgin-girl-is-like-sealed-bottle-remove-1978642?pfrom=home-topstories

What do we upstart, entitled Noojies do? Taluk & Co are selling us and the university for a song and all we do is write petitions and issue hollow ultimatums.

Also I think we should stop expecting meaningful intervention from the HC and SC. I mean look at this story https://www.legallyindia.com/lawschools/gnlu-staff-complain-to-guj-hc-bimal-patel-misusing-power-to-continue-as-director-after-expiry-of-maximum-director-terms-20181210-9714

What has the Gujarat HC/CJ done?

While Taluk & Co bury the Justice PN Sinha Inquiry Report deeper to protect Lovely ladies and Damned men; the AG group keeps frustrating Registrar, AO and VC appointments to ensure that the campus impasse remains politically useful in the coming days; and the various EC and AC instituted inquiries meander like headless chickens, this is what is breaking (bad) at NLIU Bhopal after regime change. Kudos to the student body at NLIU. Stay sharp with the actual implementation of the Gohli report and cast out the corrupt faculty and admin staff. The conspiring students must also face consequences.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhopal/panel-seeks-fir-against-nine-professors-and-staff-of-nliu/articleshow/67607759.cms

https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/national-law-institute-university-probe-panel-finds-mark-sheets-of-many-students-forged/story-9wnC4DtURyvWJc8vErPPwO.html

https://www.freepressjournal.in/bhopal/bhopal-over-200-students-dozen-faculty-members-staff-found-guilty/1437505

https://www.freepressjournal.in/bhopal/bhopal-nliu-gen-council-pardons-all-issues-notices-to-staffers/1440696

I don't know if the MP Education Minister was simply posturing https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhopal/minister-wont-allow-another-vyapam-in-mp/articleshow/67606822.cms

Now that the Brigade circus is done will the WB Law and Education Minister care to do something meaningful about the political buffoonery in the EC and on our campus?

SJA and GB, grow a spine?

Bang on! A few months ago someone had emailed all the batches excerpts of the Justice PN Sinha Inquiry report. Nothing happened. Very likely because those people are part of Taluk & Co. While Lord Taluk continues fibbing and outplaying the SJA blokes, here is what JU students achieved recently.

https://www.ndtv.com/kolkata-news/legal-action-likely-against-jadavpur-university-professor-over-remark-on-virginity-1979811

who ever is making these posts - do you have the spine to do anything more than write anonymous comments here? if your idea is to try and instigate/push the SJA or GB into doing something - it has failed so far and it will continue to fail. nice try trying to hurt our egos by calling us names or comparing us to JU or some other university. but we do have enough common sense to see that its some disgruntled faculty member who has an axe to grind with some others who are making these posts here and we are not interested in being the proxy fighters for your wars anymore. may be some of us did that in the past - but not anymore

so rather than taking refuge in a clock of anonymity and calling the students spineless, how about checking whether you have a spine? and if you find that you do have one, come out in the open and do something more concrete. the GB will support you if you can convince us that you are making some real claims with some merit in it. the least that we would like to know is who is it that is making these claims.

Until then, do everyone a favour by just shutting up and not using this forum to malign the student body.

The students can do something very simple: Just make the SOS symbol on the field again when Gogoi comes to visit. That will immediately attract media attention and the attention of the SC, legal and political community.

Just got this breaking news unofficially confirmed by a top member of the Justice League. The CM is gonna announce the second campus on Asansol during her convo speech. This will obviously seal that deal and was meant to catch SJA and students totally unaware. It will be done in the disguise of improving standard of legal education in the state and NUJS taking a leading role in that. This will also be followed by a second amendment in the Act to make this happen. The new VC will not take charge this semester till Lord Taluk does what's needed to confirm this from the university's side, after which he'll bow out gracefully, leaving the new VC and Registrar in charge. During next academic year, the increase in seats will be announced. This has been agreed upon by the law minister and the members of the League with the latter having pledged full support to the State government in return of making pensions happen finally at the university. They will also be given plum posts under the new admin like Dean, AR etc.

https://theprint.in/governance/judiciary/3-senior-lawyers-given-task-of-getting-ex-hc-judge-to-quit-as-tripura-cricket-administrator/183436/

We may just end up in a similar situation. Sure Lord Taluk was not entirely thrust on us by the Calcutta HC but informal consultations did take place among retired and serving regime friendly HC judges, AG and lawyer-politicians of the party in power. In our case Taluk has not been on a spending binge. Instead under the cover of "clean-up" and "following the book" his so-called austerity measures, including denying himself salary (does it really matter how the political favours are traded outside the campus?) have ensured that our university becomes financially dependent on state government dole.

It is clear that Lord Taluk was specifically imposed on us to complete the unfinished business of political takeover of our university. This was the deal that got PIB his second term. When his political masters saw that he was wobbling the #PIBOut moment was used to fool SJA into accepting Lord Taluk. For all his protestations, Lord Taluk will only leave when the state signals that they have completed the takeover.

All the fault of the students. The present lot do not care about the institution, unlike the earlier batches.

News Flash: NLSIU and NUJS admission brochures out, but both are not implementing domicile quota this year, it seems. And neither the upper caste quota.

https://clatconsortiumofnlu.ac.in/nlu/brochure/NLSIU.pdf

https://clatconsortiumofnlu.ac.in/nlu/brochure/WBNUJS.pdf

Also, the NUJS convocation programme is out, but a very mediocre chief guest compared to previous years (VC of CU ,who awarded an honorary PhD to Mamata)

We must all condemn the decision to invite the CU VC and TMC stooge as the chief guest. If a female academician is to be invited, then there is no better person that the IIM C director:

https://indianexpress.com/article/education/anju-seth-takes-over-as-iim-calcutta-director-first-woman-to-hold-post-5451853/

@Shame I agree that the chief guest could have been someone with well established academic or industry credentials. But why expect that from Taluk & Co when his very appointment in our university was a crafty political move. Everything since then has been following the laws of gravity. NUJS under Taluk & Co is a like a black hole.

Taluk comes from the same augean stable as the ones below. This will also make it easy for you to guess who or what kind of VC we are likely to get

https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/dr-same-same-chatterjee/cid/1489382 (also mentions the exploits of the one who must not be named but only revered)

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Copy-paste-barb-at-Dr-Parthas-thesis/articleshow/51818007.cms

https://www.telegraphindia.com/states/west-bengal/bungalow-heat-on-vc/cid/1523346

Maybe CU or even NUJS will confer an honorary doctorate to Taluk and his EC friends in the next convocation?

Arjun Agarwal has again written for the Wire

https://thewire.in/law/uncloaking-the-rule-of-opacity-in-national-law-universities

#NUJSHungerStrike @ NUJSConvocation

SJA prez must resign. The convocation ceremony was more like a Trinamool Congress rally and Taimur's speeches disgraceful.

One year anniversary approaching. Will we see a repeat and hopefully other NLUs joining in?