Case against NUJS prof who slapped student closed with ‘stern warning’

NUJS executive 'slapgate' investigation closed
NUJS executive 'slapgate' investigation closed
NUJS Kolkata has closed its investigation into a student’s allegation of physical assault by a faculty member, allowing the teacher to continue at the law school after a “stern warning”.

On 30 April, final year NUJS student Adreeka Pandey was allegedly slapped by assistant professor Dr Lovely Dasgupta, who was invigilating an examination at the law school. Pandey had entered the examination room a few minutes late and insisted on sitting for the exam despite Dasgupta’s refusal, as reported by Legally India at the time.

Pandey told Legally India that Dasgupta apologised to her orally and in writing soon after the incident, but she nevertheless asked for a disciplinary inquiry by the NUJS administration against the member of staff.

NUJS vice chancellor (VC) Prof Ishwara Bhatt told Legally India yesterday that the law school’s executive council (EC) resolved to let Dasgupta continue working at the law school in her current position after a “stern warning” from the EC, since she had tendered a written apology and “was not involved in such conduct in the past”.

NUJS registrar Dr Surojit Mukhhopadhyay added: “It’s a closure as far as we are concerned. It is not an order, the EC has given a resolution. The EC has the mandate to deliberate upon it. We have taken [the complaint] to investigation and followed the EC’s resolution, our duty has been discharged.”

Pandey said yesterday that the college had not yet told her about the final decision, despite her having made several requests since June.

“The matter was tabled on 15 June in front of the EC and still the order isn’t out,” she said. “I’ve been told I can only personally come to Calcutta from Delhi and take this resolution. I am doing my best to obtain it. I will file an RTI if I don’t get it soon without flying to Calcutta.”

She said that “a warning of some sort” was “completely disproportionate and not befitting of the public humiliation I underwent” and that there was no reason to rejoice about the fact that there is an order “notwithstanding what [the order] says”.

Dasgupta did not reply to an email and calls seeking comment.

Comments

Legal Poet 16 Jul 2013, 10:58
+26 -3
Adreeka was not 'allegedly' slapped by Lovely Dasgupta.
Adreeka was slapped by Dr. Dasgupta.
There are 2 dozen witnesses to prove that.
Reality 16 Jul 2013, 17:35
+7 -0
Poetry is fine, but why is the student not filing a civil suit and/or a FIR? SJA, EC, etc. are only institutional devices and they do not supersede the courts. Aren't NUJS students aware of the real options?
Reign of Terror 16 Jul 2013, 11:02
+11 -1
As usual the authorities have capitulated, shameless cover-up... student body must act and boycott all classes of the so called professor... it is time to show the administration what is what... student body must unite... we are watching
NUJS-Alum 16 Jul 2013, 11:05
+22 -31
If I had to take a side, I will take Lovely's and not Adreeka's.
Noojie 2013 16 Jul 2013, 15:23
+8 -11
[quote name="NUJS-Alum"]If I had to take a side, I will take Lovely's and not Adreeka's.[/quote]
True that!! The story seems to have been clearly blown out of proportion. There are dozen witnesses to that too
XJ_Nalsar 16 Jul 2013, 11:12
+6 -18
violence, sad placements, disillusioned students.. scene is sad at Noojus.
The Shield 16 Jul 2013, 11:21
+17 -2
The Shield has noticed the use of the term "alleged" and feels that it has not been used correctly. The Shield has also deliberated internally on the events.

The Shield agrees that the punishment is disproportionate to the humiliation caused to the student in front of her peers

The Shield feels that the SJA should show some spine and reject such ruling. Let the students raise the issue with authorities internally and pass a resolution with the GB protesting such ruling...

If this is allowed to pass, then it is a travesty of justice and resounding slap across the pillars of the university
grizzled veteran 16 Jul 2013, 12:16
+17 -2
[quote name="The Shield"]
If this is allowed to pass, then it is a travesty of justice and resounding slap across the pillars of the university[/quote]

You mean the pillar of justice in front of the academic block? (shall not use the more colloquial term for fear of being edited out by LI)

Lovely Dasgupta and the very fact that students at NUJS are still subjected to what she calls 'teaching' is a travesty of justice itself. I have had the misfortune of being taught one elective by her. I also have the fortune of being taught only one elective by her. We were pretty much left to our own devices to figure out the subject matter.

To my mind, there is no faculty member more vile. Lack of depth in her understanding of the subject matter, inability to convey concepts, a refusal to accommodate alternative perception and above all, a seeming lack of empathy. While this might be true for a lot of law teachers, this one takes the cake at being the very worst that an Indian law teacher is.

Given that Ms Pandey feels that the decision of the Uni is disproportionate, the SJA must rise to the occasion. Your predecessors brought the Uni to its knees (anyone remember the chicken pox incident?), why cower now? There are ways to make a faculty member leave the Uni out of sheer frustration. It has happened in NUJS before. It can happen again.
Vespa 16 Jul 2013, 14:35
+3 -0
Is this you B**** ? That elective was "Sports Law".....and i too bear the brunt !!! Only thing i remember from that so-called specialaized 'elective' is WADA.

Damn WADA!!!
grizzled veteran 16 Jul 2013, 17:36
+0 -0
you've got the wrong person. I took Intl Sale of Goods with her. Before your time perhaps :)
Wada Raha 18 Jul 2013, 23:33
+1 -0
Why are you upset man? Did she break your Wada?
Reign of Terror 17 Jul 2013, 12:05
+3 -0
[quote name="grizzled veteran"][quote name="The Shield"]
If this is allowed to pass, then it is a travesty of justice and resounding slap across the pillars of the university[/quote]

You mean the pillar of justice in front of the academic block? (shall not use the more colloquial term for fear of being edited out by LI)

Lovely Dasgupta and the very fact that students at NUJS are still subjected to what she calls 'teaching' is a travesty of justice itself. I have had the misfortune of being taught one elective by her. I also have the fortune of being taught only one elective by her. We were pretty much left to our own devices to figure out the subject matter.

To my mind, there is no faculty member more vile. Lack of depth in her understanding of the subject matter, inability to convey concepts, a refusal to accommodate alternative perception and above all, a seeming lack of empathy. While this might be true for a lot of law teachers, this one takes the cake at being the very worst that an Indian law teacher is.

Given that Ms Pandey feels that the decision of the Uni is disproportionate, the SJA must rise to the occasion. Your predecessors brought the Uni to its knees (anyone remember the chicken pox incident?), why cower now? There are ways to make a faculty member leave the Uni out of sheer frustration. It has happened in NUJS before. It can happen again.[/quote]

We had watched over this institution many years ago.. we are watching with sadness at the rot that is spreading today because we no longer walk the walls .. We know of the incidents you speak of and we are happy that those legends are not forgotten..

There are ways to take this forward.. guilt has already been admitted... The GB should stand with their fellow mate and RISE AS ONE.. Peaceful means of protest can be adopted.. [Do a token hunger strike maybe.. the mess food sucks anyways]...File a local complaint with the cops, write to the chief justice of India (the supreme chancellor), write to the Executive Council showing them the demerits and the ugly precedent this would set for future generations.

At least if not expulsion, a suspension for at least a couple of months should be imposed to set a strong precedent.. The Reign does not favor expulsion as said individual may never get a job again due to this glaring publicity of events but make an example out of this... for the good of the community, the students and the institution...

Lastly..We and our brothers will come back one day .. We will not let the institution be consumed by this shame... ARISE, AWAKE and MARCH FORTH...
Guest 16 Jul 2013, 13:15
+9 -8
NUJS always had sub-standard and unprofessional professors. Its sad but true. So much for being a top tier law school.
Guest 18 Jul 2013, 07:10
+3 -1
[quote name="Guest"]NUJS always had sub-standard and unprofessional professors. Its sad but true. So much for being a top tier law school.[/quote]
Dude, which top-tier law school doesn't? It's almost entirely terrible, except for a few gems here and there.
Old NALSAR Boy 18 Jul 2013, 07:24
+4 -3
Maybe we just viewed things differently during our time at NALSAR, but seriously, our friends over at NUJS can really take things too seriously, no? It's definitely a humiliating affair for the student, and the faculty member definitely deserves chastising, but what's with the 'disproportionate' punishment bollocks? This Dasgupta person has now been branded as a student-beating madwoman on LI, most law school students and a fair number of alumni think poorly of her now, she's tendered written and verbal apologies. Strikes me as fair punishment. Who expels anyone for slapping someone, irrespective of the teacher-student relationship? This professor's career has a permanent mark on it now. The student's humiliation is at the end of the day the humiliation of a victim, which while no less serious than that of a wrong-doer, is nonetheless something that is vindicated by the punishment of the culprit. That seems done to me now. I mean, anything further just seems vendetta.
Former SJA President 16 Jul 2013, 14:18
+17 -3
Adreeka - please file an FIR - it is upon you to ensure that she gets commensurate punishment and is not allowed to get away with this kind of conduct. You are a lawyer for crying out loud - do something about it. If you need an help, let the alumni know.

SJA - please pass a resolution to boycott all classes of Lovely Dasgupta and make your decision known to that defunct EC. As someone said "show some spine".

Anything short of expulsion is unacceptable.
Xyz123 16 Jul 2013, 15:24
+2 -0
[quote name="Former SJA President"]Adreeka - please file an FIR - it is upon you to ensure that she gets commensurate punishment and is not allowed to get away with this kind of conduct. You are a lawyer for crying out loud - do something about it. If you need an help, let the alumni know.

SJA - please pass a resolution to boycott all classes of Lovely Dasgupta and make your decision known to that defunct EC. As someone said "show some spine".

Anything short of expulsion is unacceptable.[/quote]
Bunty??
Former SJA President 17 Jul 2013, 06:59
+6 -1
Soummo
Soummo Fan 18 Jul 2013, 06:55
+2 -0
We want the "Former SJA President" back man! Wish there was a time machine.

I agree with my President. It's time to act and just not be bystanders.
Ey Baana! 19 Jul 2013, 00:25
+0 -1
[quote name="Soummo Fan"]We want the "Former SJA President" back man! Wish there was a time machine. [/quote]

NUJS elections are boring now! Gone are those days of mud slinging and back stabbing. Thank god i graduated at the right time
well wisher NUJS 16 Jul 2013, 17:39
+2 -2
[quote name="Former SJA President"]Adreeka - please file an FIR - it is upon you to ensure that she gets commensurate punishment and is not allowed to get away with this kind of conduct. You are a lawyer for crying out loud - do something about it. If you need an help, let the alumni know.

SJA - please pass a resolution to boycott all classes of Lovely Dasgupta and make your decision known to that defunct EC. As someone said "show some spine".

Anything short of expulsion is unacceptable.[/quote]

All of us to appeal to CBI to make the enquiry on the financial scam in NUJS and other admnistrative and academic scams in NUJS
Dazed and Confused 16 Jul 2013, 14:44
+3 -1
File the FIR and file a civil case in tort or live witht he outcome of the sham academic hearing and move on. Don't expect anyone to come to your rescure if you don't have the resolve to use your training to help yourself.
Condemnable 16 Jul 2013, 17:36
+4 -1
According to Justice Ishwar Bhat and Justice Surajit (concurring) you only deserve a "stern warning" if you assault a lady and have not done so in the past. Logically speaking, I should then get the same punishment if I slap or punch [...] and have not done so in the past.
aXe 16 Jul 2013, 17:46
+1 -1
LI why aren't you seeking an interview with the VC over this and the numerous other grievances of the students? If he refused you please state that. Rather than showing LI's lack of clout it will show his lack of transparency.
The Shield 16 Jul 2013, 23:45
+8 -0
Dhall ka nishan... shield ka pehchaan....

[img]http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a508/TehBeebs/Maul_zps47af5409.png[/img]

Keep vigil for the sign on your doors.... the shield will protect you....

She shall not pass !!!!!
Dark Force 16 Jul 2013, 23:56
+7 -1
Lovely Dasgupta if one remembers correctly once saw a kitten many many years ago being fed milk in the hostel mess and cried murder....threatened to take action of all sorts if the poor thing was not kicked out...

She is not a person who has any common sense, iota of kindness within her heart or is an able teacher... she is not fit to be in a college with kids much like Dolores Umbridge

Please note, an FIR can be filed with Bidhannagar east naming her for physical assault without provocation , disturbing peace etc...

Take cognizance now and root out evil... tomorrow boys will lift girls from campus or start assulting them and the VC will say.. they had no past history of lifting and hence should be reprimanded..plus there is precedent.. if teacher got away with assualt, why not the students...?
alum 17 Jul 2013, 05:36
+10 -0
The reason why the admin went soft on her is because they know that the present lot of NUJS students are a bunch of spineless sissies. They would not have the guts to do this with previous batches. Most old-timers remember Lovely as a docile, recent LLM grad who never dared to throw attitude. Frankly, the downfall of NUJS in recent years has a lot do do with the "post-CLAT generation" of students who are now filling up the place: a bunch of timid mugpots and doormats.
grizzled veteran 17 Jul 2013, 05:57
+18 -1
Lovely Dasgupta akta maobadi
Guest 17 Jul 2013, 10:57
+4 -0
This is the same woman who wrote an article on "Reforming Legal Education". God bless Indian legal education if this is the standard of academics in one of India's leading law schools. The NUJS student community should be ashamed of itself if it allows Dasgupta and the NUJS administration to get away with this. Use this as an opportunity to bring change. Boycott classes, write multiple petitions to the Governing and Executive Council members and use local media (not just online legal media) to highlight the problems. Adreeka Pandey may understandably not be comfortable with taking this to the next level. But too much damage has been done and this needs a logical conclusion.
Wow 17 Jul 2013, 11:10
+2 -0
File an FIR; you have an admission in the internal inquiry, she can't contest the allegation before the police.

Also, LI, why does the article say "allegedly slapped" and not "slapped". Irespective of the merits of the punishment, surely it is agreed that she slapped?

On that note, how can she slap?
bemused 17 Jul 2013, 12:16
+0 -0
dearest noojies,
i sympathize with you. would you all have the time to check your cr.p.c. as to whether simple hurt is a cognizable offence or not.
A bit late... 18 Jul 2013, 08:02
+5 -0
[img]http://cache.ohinternet.com/images/b/bc/How-can-she-slap-2eqf.jpg[/img]
X 17 Jul 2013, 11:47
+4 -1
Unsurprisingly, Bar & Bench and Lawctopus have blacked out the story. The NUJS alumni at these websites are harming the college by this ostrich attitude.
XX 18 Jul 2013, 14:22
+0 -0
But when did Lawctopus ever have a story? Isn't it an internship thing?
Present student 17 Jul 2013, 12:12
+3 -0
Nujs has become a breeding ground for spinelessness and selfishness. No one care about what is going on as long as they have a glorious CGPA and/or a fat pay package. The SJA is as stagnant as the rarely-cleaned cess pool. While some professors do continue to hold high their teaching standards, others clearly dont. Nujs is harbouring lackadaisical administrative staff who just warm their chairs to get paid. Also, Nujs has become renowned, of late, for hushing up grave matters affecting students. Bad times are ahead of us.
Judgesaab 17 Jul 2013, 12:19
+0 -0
Anyone noticed her email id has the words "dasgupta" and "love" in them?

So much for love....
Investigate the NUJS VC Now! 17 Jul 2013, 13:25
+6 -1
NUJS is really rotting because of VC and someone needs to take action Kian! These issues were pointed out in my comment to one of your earlier articles:
1. From a transparent administration, we now have one of the most opaque dealings going on. Rules are suddenly changed at the VCs behest without any consultation. He hates faculty meetings and does not hold them at all. He completely sucks up to judges and garners support from them! Committees are staffed with the VCs lackeys and able faculty members are completely ignored. He wants only Yes Men around him! All of MP Singhs' progressive policies have been overturned and this VC is taking NUJS back to the dark ages with his archaic policies and his blind love for the BCI! In one of the academic council meetings, one of the outside members from another law school asked him as to why he was reversing Singhs' policies on electives when all other law schools were copying it!! For some reason, he has a serious inferiority complex and hates Prof Singh to whom he is constantly compared. So he deliberately reverses all of this good policies and sidelines all of Prof Singh's appointees without care or consideration for the University and its growth.

2. Daniel Mathew a wonderful faculty member and appointed by Prof Singh was taken off from the website management function for no reason! It now turns out that Guha is responsible for this, since he doesn't like Daniel at all..

2. the VCs academic integrity is in serious doubt! he refused to publish a critical review of his book in the NUJS law review putting pressure on student editors not to publish it. This critical review was by noted consti scholar, Sudhir Krishnaswamy, a Rhodes scholar. The VC has done nothing for the journal and Prof MP Singh continues to help the students run the journal. The present VC merely wants his name in there and cares nothing about the journal or the institution!

3. five excellent faculty members have all left after this VC took over! The latest is Vishwas who was loved by students! And others I believe such as Shamnad Basheer are on their way out, since the VC has completely sidelined them and is making a conscious effort to replace them with his lackeys!.
There is more stuff, but am sure you can dig this out. I really hope the CJI constitutes an internal enquiry committee into all of this and NUJS gets rid of this man and restores its former glory!
Restore NUJS to Former Glory 17 Jul 2013, 14:26
+4 -0
Fully agree with comment above. This VC is absolutely useless and is dragging the institution down! MP Singh hired the best from around the world and this dickhead (or bhat-head rather) is filling the institution with his cronies from mysore who can't teach for nuts! Students are suffering because all good quality faculty are leaving. And now LLM students and even recently graduated LLB students are being forced to teach the students! What a tragedy! To see an institution that was right on top come down so quickly because of a useless and petty VC who does not give a damn about the institution and is using it to further his own ends!
old noojie 17 Jul 2013, 15:39
+1 -0
Sorry pal, but instead of crying like a baby before Kian first tell the SJA to grow a spine and pass a no-confidence motion, or at least a strongly-worded resolution. Only then will LI report these events. You people are a bunch of scaredy cats and there is a large section among you which sucks up to the admin. In the good old days, there was not so much infighting and people had the guts to stand up. And may I add that this did not affect the college's reputation and the recruitment was, in fact, far superior to what it is now. After all, who wants to recruit a bunch of nerdy conformists?

Kian would request you NOT to report on their complaints unless they have the balls to air them publicly through a legitimate forum like the SJA or a student union. Let these kids suffer and learn a lesson.

[quote name="Investigate the NUJS VC Now!"]NUJS is really rotting because of VC and someone needs to take action Kian! These issues were pointed out in my comment to one of your earlier articles:
1. From a transparent administration, we now have one of the most opaque dealings going on. Rules are suddenly changed at the VCs behest without any consultation. He hates faculty meetings and does not hold them at all. He completely sucks up to judges and garners support from them! Committees are staffed with the VCs lackeys and able faculty members are completely ignored. He wants only Yes Men around him! All of MP Singhs' progressive policies have been overturned and this VC is taking NUJS back to the dark ages with his archaic policies and his blind love for the BCI! In one of the academic council meetings, one of the outside members from another law school asked him as to why he was reversing Singhs' policies on electives when all other law schools were copying it!! For some reason, he has a serious inferiority complex and hates Prof Singh to whom he is constantly compared. So he deliberately reverses all of this good policies and sidelines all of Prof Singh's appointees without care or consideration for the University and its growth.

2. Daniel Mathew a wonderful faculty member and appointed by Prof Singh was taken off from the website management function for no reason! It now turns out that Guha is responsible for this, since he doesn't like Daniel at all..

2. the VCs academic integrity is in serious doubt! he refused to publish a critical review of his book in the NUJS law review putting pressure on student editors not to publish it. This critical review was by noted consti scholar, Sudhir Krishnaswamy, a Rhodes scholar. The VC has done nothing for the journal and Prof MP Singh continues to help the students run the journal. The present VC merely wants his name in there and cares nothing about the journal or the institution!

3. five excellent faculty members have all left after this VC took over! The latest is Vishwas who was loved by students! And others I believe such as Shamnad Basheer are on their way out, since the VC has completely sidelined them and is making a conscious effort to replace them with his lackeys!.
There is more stuff, but am sure you can dig this out. I really hope the CJI constitutes an internal enquiry committee into all of this and NUJS gets rid of this man and restores its former glory![/quote]
Guest 18 Jul 2013, 06:10
+3 -0
Amongst the top tier law school the NUJS Alumni prefers to live a life of cushy oblivion ... never casting a glance or protesting about grave matters affecting the alma mater. From what I hear the alumni continues to be unorganised and fragmented. Alas !!
John Snow 18 Jul 2013, 12:13
+2 -0
Winter is coming.
Well wisher NUJS 18 Jul 2013, 13:10
+1 -0
Dear Kian
Why have you blocked my comments which gave the brief of University Review Commission and the letters of the VC and the Registrar.

May we know this ?
RTI? 18 Jul 2013, 18:24
+0 -0
Not sure why you didn't report the fact that the VC asked Adreeka to file an RTI to get a copy of a decision in which she is the complainant! Gosh: does [he] not know the basic principles of administrative law?? Why is he being so secretive?
well wisher NUJS 21 Jul 2013, 17:33
+0 -0
[quote name="RTI?"]Not sure why you didn't report the fact that the VC asked Adreeka to file an RTI to get a copy of a decision in which she is the complainant! Gosh: does [he] not know the basic principles of administrative law?? Why is he being so secretive?[/quote]

RTI in NUJS ???????????? Please ask under RTI what the VC has registrar has done to violate all the laws of RTI and harrass the RTI applicant.

Prof . Bhatt and Dr, Mulhopadhyay : Will you please tell on an open forum what have you done with an RTI applicant so that the financial scam in NUJS is not exposed ?
well wisher NUJS 22 Jul 2013, 17:23
+0 -0
Why Prof . Bhatt and Dr, Mulhopadhyay is silent on the RTI ?

Prachi Srivastave once wrote how once wrote NUJS works on RTI........

Will Prachi dig up the papers on what Prof . Bhatt and Dr, Mulhopadhyay did to RTI applicant ?