NUJS Kolkata has finally complied with part of its duties under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, and supplied to students 240 PDF documents containing meeting minutes of executive, general, academic, finance and standing councils and committees, going as far back as 2000.
The Student Juridical Association (SJA) has now fulfilled the remainder of the university’s legal duty, to proactively make available such minutes, and uploaded hundreds of files to its website, available via Google Drive here.
“It was a fight for transparency that we had been pursuing since the past 5 years. Coupled with online RTIs, we hope this leads to a similar trend across other transparency-phobic national law universities,” the SJA told us in a comment.
Though not an atypical state of affairs at national law schools, very few of which comply with the letter and spirit of the RTI Act, NUJS students in particular had long been frustrated by successive administrations’ excuses in not providing them with the minutes that document the management of the public institution.
The information was finally provided further to a series of Right to Information (RTI) requests filed by a number of students, including current SJA president Arindum Nayak and former SJA president Arjun Agarwal. Students had sent the first requests for minutes all the way back in 2016. NUJS has now responded to a more recent January 2019 RTI of Agarwal’s, following his graduation from NUJS.
According to the SJA, it took “multiple stand-offs” over the last few weeks that ultimately caused the administration to relent and honour the RTI requests.
The electronic cache of documents includes 60 executive council (EC) minutes going back all the way to its fourth meeting in 2000, when Prof Madhava Menon was vice-chancellor (VC) of NUJS, until the 22 December 2018 EC meeting, presided over by interim VC, ex-justice Amit Talukdar (link to SJA’s Google Drive upload of EC minutes).
Also included are minutes relating to at least 28 academic council meetings, 94 finance committee meetings, 14 general council minutes and 42 standing committee meetings.
However, annual general council meeting (GC) minutes post the 18th GC meeting of November 2016, are still outstanding, including the 19th, 20th and the 21st general council meeting, which was most recently held, on 3 February 2019.
Nevertheless, the documents come at an opportune time for a student body that has been seeking to accelerate the appointment of a permanent VC, after a power vacuum created under interim VC Talukdar for nearly a year now.
Students will also be hopeful that the minutes will contain information that could improve the odds of ending up with a competent and independent VC, rather than a pliant state-government appointee.
If you spot anything interesting in the documents, please do let us know in the comments or via Contact Us.
View and download all minutes here.
Transparency-phobia, overcome
The SJA wrote in a celebratory email to its student body earlier today:
Failure to institutionalise transparency norms has been one of our biggest grievances against the University administration since 2014. As the documents attached herewith portray, to overcome this transparency-phobia of the University, we have been filing multiple Right to Information (RTI) applications over the past five years. These range from an RTI by the current SJA President Arindum Nayak as a first-year student to one filed recently by the former SJA President Arjun Agarwal during his convocation. To illustrate that point - students have come into this University filing RTIs and they have graduated filing RTIs without getting any response because the administration, adept at doublespeak, never made the information sought available citing obnoxious, frivolous and technical reasons at various points.
However, over the past week, we had multiple stand-offs and confrontations with the administration regarding this issue (as highlighted in our previous mail for the GB meeting). Finally, after another stand-off today, the Public Information Officer under direction from the Vice-Chancellor and Registrar, agreed to provide us with all the minutes and agendas of all governing bodies of the University - General Council, Executive Council, Academic Council, Finance Committee and Standing Committee - from inception.
Coupled with NUJS becoming the only educational institution to have Online RTI facilities, this has perhaps been our student body’s greatest moral victory towards the cause of transparency since we managed to secure the Review Commission Report from the former Vice-Chancellor after a similar stand-off and RTI around the same time last year (March 24, 2018: Right to Truth).
The minutes and agendas of the governing bodies provide a key insight to the administrative working and decision-making of the University. While the files are enormous, going through these minutes and agendas will give you almost every information you ever needed to know about the University.
We are uploading all the documents on a Google Drive and also on the SJA Website for ease of access. We hope you make the best use of these information (we certainly shall!).
Subject: “Information is a right, not a charity”
On 10 December 2018, the SJA sent the below email reiterating the university’s legal obligations of transparency, copying in the NUJS registrar, copying in the Advocate General of West Bengal, NUJS faculty, the VC and others.
Comments
Did NUJS authorities deny or frustrate access to the remaining EC, FC, GC and AC minutes? How soon will you have those? Keep up the pressure. It will take a while to cut through this huge data dump. But it does open a Pandora's box now.
To students, use it or lose it. To the relevant faculty and staff, you can run but you cannot hide. God and an acolyte have already left the university. The Endgame is near for Lord Taluk and Justice League. Injustice League you better scurry too because the Other Sen is already packing.
1) At page 170 there is a report by Justice Shyamal Sen about how t[b]hree of the professors, Arup Poddar, Sudhakar, and Srinivasulu misrepresented facts, lied, took undue advantage and basically robbed the university[/b]. The report calls their appointment illegal. These "professors" were then show caused by the authorities (p/177 of EC minutes).
2) Amit Talukdar writes some weird shit logic in his defence of these freaks at page 189 using logic of "reverse osmosis", "serendipity" and "fulcrum effect". LOL what nonsense!
3) Another report at p/198 finds that the[b]se three "professors" cheated the university of 7-9 lakhs of rupees [/b]and recommends that this be recovered from them
4) A 2005 BA LLB alumni, Suman Saha being deprived of pay and his letters to NUJS "mysteriously vanishing" forced him to write a strong letter to the authorities (p/230). He has alleged loss of pay, dignity and embarrassment (p/279).
The big question is [b]WHAT ARE THE AUTHORITIES GOING TO DO ABOUT THIS?????[/b]
KIAN: I am only referring to what is mentioned in the publicly available minutes (you can check the page numbers) so please do not censor this comment. We need some action taken ASAP!!
Sorry to say but your post is full of shit.
The damning report (page nos. 170 - 176 of EC #63 minutes) is by Justice Shyamal Sen, former CJ of Allahabad HC and a noted jurist. His report is very factual, precise and logical. He clinically analyzes the statements of Poddar, Srinivasulu and Sudhakar and arrives at his opinion based on well known Supreme Court ratio in M. S. Patil v. Gulbarga University AIR 2010 3783 that "a candidate who got illegally appointed on basis of fraudulent representation has no equitable right".
These conclusions were backed up by a concurring opinion (page nos. 193- 198) by Rathindra Narayan Chakraborty, retired Audit Service officer who also uses plain logic in arriving at a conclusion that they had "overdrawn" (polite word for cheated) several lacs of Rupees from NUJS by falsification of their records and claiming a higher post.
The three [...] were saved by Amit Talukdar who in his opinion (page nos. 190 - 192) does not deny that there was misrepresentation and concealment of truth by the three [...] but invokes some nonsensical legal doctrines (reverse osmosis, serendipity and fulcrum effect) to opine that they are an exception. This opinion is not surprising given how last 1 year has shown Amit's great love and affection for these three [...].
If these [...] have nothing to hide why are they evasive about it when questioned? [...] Let them email an explanation or rebuttal of the Justice Shyamal Sen Report.
Sad that an institution of excellence has [...]
Arup Poddar. He gave false statements, took excess salary from university and [...] his PhD thesis (60%). Also [asked] to be be appointed to EC
Sreenivasulu. [...], [asked] to be be appointed to EC
Anirban Mazumdar. He is under investigation for online courses. Also demnded higher salary.
Sanddeepa Bhat. He is under investigation for starting [...] courses with private companies.
Anupama Ghosal. She kept [asking] for 6 years for promotion and higher salary.
Kavita Singh. She was removed as head of POSH committee for inaction and student complaint
Lovely Dasgupta. Found guilty of slapping a student during exam. Also found guilty by Calcutta HC inquiry of assisting former registrar [...]. Disciplinary action recommended against her by P N Sinha report.
Ruchira Goswami. She is under investigation for delaying grant of degree to an alumni by 1 yr.
Vaneeta Patnaik. She is under investigation for online courses.
Sarfraz Khan. He is under investigation for decisions taken as registrar. Also kept [asking] for higher salary, telephone allowance, newspaper allowance. Also [asking] for membership in EC and promotion
Shameek Sen and Tilottama Raychaudhuri. Both given jobs in 2007 despite not having UGC qualification. [...].
Guess what these paradigms of virtue have in common? [b]NO ACTION TAKEN! [/b]
For the avoidance of doubt, there has been no evidence that anything about that thesis is "[...]" or otherwise, and have therefore removed any reference to that PhD now in that comment.
As of today, I am filing a defamation case against Pinaki Ranjan Banerjee who first filed a fake allegation with NUJS against iPleaders, and I have decided to take the same action against everyone else who will make false, irresponsible and defamatory statements including NUJS student body and faculty members if necessary. Please let this message be treated as a fair warning.
NUJS has repeatedly claimed that courses were illegal, wheras NUJS lawyers failed to provide even a single section under which the course was illegal in court. Now NUJS has asked UGC to come and clarify whether the course was actually illegal as per them. The reality is that only in 2018 July UGC came up with a regulation to regulate online courses. Until then, several NLUs offered online courses and nobody considered their courses illegal, nor UGC ever objected. Application was made to UGC regarding these courses by NUJS in 2015 if my memory serves right, UGC simply said we are making online course regulations so we can't respond to your application. Much lies have been spread about online courses, and it is time for us to take some tough stance I believe. We have a copy of an RTI response from UGC where it clearly states that offering distance courses such as the ones launched by NUJS were not illegal at the time. I will soon make these documents public with some help from Kian.
I challenge you to share a Google Drive link right now [...]. Online courses were never allowed.
[...]
@Kian, there is nothing insulting here. We just want Ramanuj to show this key piece of evidence which he has curiously been sitting on for more than a year.
[img]https://www.legallyindia.com/images/uploads/20190225-112324.jpg[/img]
They were appointed as Associate Professors and their promotion as Professors that was lawfully was done. Under the NUJS Act, 1999: EC can appoint Lecturer, Assistant Professor, Reader, Associate Professor, Professor, etc.. Accordingly, in April, 2007-advertisement for the position of Associate Professor was issued. In June, 2007there was a selection committee report on selection of Associate Professors, having its Chairman, Prof MP Singh, the then VC, NUJS. Incidentally, on June 25, 2007, Appointment letter was issued from NUJS for the post of Associate Professor. Accordingly, in June/July, 2007, Service Agreement with the University in the capacity as associate professors was executed. All the aforesaid steps were done with the EC meeting and Approval, page number 142, states that pay fixation of the teachers shall be done as per the designation and page number 143 states that directly recruited Associate Professor shall be placed in the pay band IV. February, 2009, EC meeting and Approval, page number 144 states that Associate Professor, after completing three years of service as Associate Professor in the Academic Grade Pay (AGP) 9000, shall be promoted and re-designated as Professor and be placed in the AGP of Rs. 10000 in the pay band IV. In March, 2009, Declaration of Probation as Associate Professors was done. April, 2009- Pay Band was awarded to Associate Professors based on EC approval of February 2009.
In August, 2012- Applied for promotion to the post of Professor under Career Advancement Scheme (CAS) as per UGC Regulation, 2010 and as per approval of MHRD letter by EC on February, 2009. It must be noted, Justice Shyamal Sen opinion was overturn in February 2014 as Justice Talukdar Committee submitted report confirming the appointments were made as Associate Professors and there were no issues with it and entire matter was treated by the said committee as "closed chapter", which was accepted in toto in April EC meeting 2014 and asked the University to clear the promotion at the earliest.
and the EC has directed closure of one of the matters (of drawing excess pay) by recovering the excess. Funnily enough neither bhat nor taluk seemed or seems to be interested in doing that. One wonders why??
and why are you so worried about Kian being liable for defamation? Are you his legal advisor? Or are you the legal advisor of the people who you say have been defamed? [...]
- The records during Menon, Chimni and MP Singh's time show various efforts to improve the university in its early years. The decline happens Bhat onwards. It is these documents people need to focus on rather than the old documents.
- The sins Bhat committed include not taking action on a proposed credit sharing student exchange programme with Warwick University and the University of Sheffield (where an alum is a faculty member). The records constantly show him putting off important decisions
- Shamnad Basheer denied leave but some supported him. Basheer later claimed Bhat was the one opposed to him.
- Damning findings against faculty members belonging to both camps.
- On the plagiarised PhD thesis bit, the UGC rules have already been enacted. Anyone can file a complaint, the law applies retrospectively, and faculty members found guilty can be terminated.
https://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2016/04/18/have-comment-sections-on-news-media-websites-failed/anonymity-may-have-killed-online-commenting
In future, regarding this thread, if you make any comments with specific allegations, please provide sourcing for each (i.e., in case of RTI documents, a link to the PDF and page number, backing up your statement).
Generally, I think the reputation of the comments section is far worse than it is in reality nowadays, though I accept occasionally some not-so-nice ones slip through and there is some snarking, but we generally deal with those fairly quickly once pointed out.
In any case, we are constantly refining and adjusting the process, based on feedback such as yours, and hope to have a friendly community which at the same time facilitates an open exchange of ideas. Always welcome to hear more suggestions (though I don't think mandatory sign-ins really help - Facebook, Twitter, Reddit and other online platforms/partial cesspits being prime examples...)
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http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/2018/jul/22/karnataka-cag-raises-objections-to-appointments-at-state-run-universities-1846803.html
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/law-univ-scam-hc-asks-staff-to-produce-affidavit/articleshow/67799513.cms
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/law-univ-registrar-sorry-for-inappropriate-comments/articleshow/68055233.cms
https://www.livelaw.in/kerala-hc-quashes-appointments-of-four-assistant-professors-by-aligarh-muslim-university-for-violating-ugc-norms-read-judgment/
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/kerala-high-court-sets-aside-assistant-professor-appointment-at-cusat/articleshow/67079574.cms
I doubt for the following reasons -
1. We are suffering Lord Taluk and his recently retired bros have shown their true colours. Everyone knows how the CJs were such PJs (make what you will of the pun). The less said of the Court here, the better
2. The suspect role of the AG to support Lord Taluk in blocking, suppressing, slowing down et al of all the inquiries and also of the Justice PN Sinha Report. We all know how the mere mention of scrutiny in the 2017 faculty recruitment rocked both the Justice and Injustice Leagues. No wonder SJA has become their common enemy. AG does not want any progress on PNS Report and VC wants inquiry into 2017 recruitment to peter out. Quid pro quo. Remember those famous words, Lord Taluk?
3. Lord Taluk's own role in letting off the three amigos. No wonder they along with many other interested folks in this University want Lord Taluk and the Other Sen to stay (for now at least)
4. Just look at the way Lord Taluk has protected and extended the legacy of PIB. We are facing a Surajit moment with distance education courses while our lawyers are minting money (hey Taluk why use our money to settle your IoUs with the AG and others?). I believe Ramanuj when he says that our lawyers have not been able to do zilch in the courts. Makes me wonder how Lord Taluk ever became.....
I agree that UGC rules can be problematic. It limits our ability and flexibility to attract and retain talent. But don't tell me you cannot spot cherry-picking by successive VCs. I think the SJA made a very sensible suggestion to the authorities. It said that while there is no escaping UGC rules till we secure autonomy like NLUD and NALSAR or IoEs, we can experiment with having a well throughout policy on making positive discrimination to attract and retain quality faculty and ensure that this policy is evenly and consistently applied.
Lord Taluk would have you believe that he is too old, dense and ill-qualified to understand academic stuff. But the real deal is to p**p the seats to the powers that be.
1. Was the SJA wrong all along? But the EC records since May 2018 clearly show that the EC found the SJA arguments convincing. Injustice League argues that because the AC and EC previously approved these courses there cannot be any wrongdoing esp because it had the high and mighty such as Justices PC Ghose, Altamas Kabir and even Lord Taluk himself (then as an EC member!). The counter argument of SJA has been that Injustice League misled the AC and EC into giving the approvals. But we all know how the EC can be manipulated depending on the composition and right now it is tilted in favour of Lord Taluk & Co.
2. The NUJS lawyers are minting money - yes that's our fees bleeding out. And as a vain person never stops reminding, the refunds will be out of our fees too. In the meantime the Other Sen with the help of Lord Taluk and AG has swiftly moved to gift 7th CPC pay and arrears to NPAs - the flab called DEOs. So while we students bleed, the v******s party.
3. NUJS lawyers if confronted will likely allege that they are not being briefed properly. Or it is entirely possible, given the record of Taluk & Co that they are themselves misleading the EC and stretching things out to a predestined profitable moment for a select few. As they used to say in the IT industry, it is the variable pay that matters. And Lord Taluk doesn't even take salary!! I feel this act of self-deprivation can be tracked to certain chambers of secrets (credits to HP)
4. The factionalism in the Faulty means that things will continue to remain gloomy despite a change in VC, Registrar and AO positions. Since April 2018, we have had three Registrars, Lord Taluk and a new AR Admin. At least the first two are people having no connection with academic power brokering. And yet we are being served the same PIB stew. To paraphrase and particularly plagiarize what Odin famously told Thor before dying: NUJS is not a place, it's a people. And we have some seriously rotten lot here. Even Loki would have run away!
The solution to all these troubles is for the SJA to directly intervene in the Court. That will also be a great litmus test of our famous alumni in the courts and elsewhere. Many will say that SJA has done a poor outreach. Possible. But what has the alumni (as a collective) really done with the "little" that the SJA has exposed? Sure some have suggested PIL et al. What stopped them from forging ahead? Will they shed their personal agendas and fight with (not for) SJA, with us?
A direct intervention of SJA in the courts will upset the happy apple cart. And we really need to do that - F**k them in their own game.
Then, SJA = Hunger Strike
[quote]"Several positive measures are now being taken to ensure transparency in the functioning of the university. We expect a responsive, transparent and invigorated administration under the leadership of the new interim vice-chancellor, Justice Talukdar," said Arjun Agarwal, president of the NUJS Student Juridical Association.
[/quote]
https://www.telegraphindia.com/states/west-bengal/panel-to-probe-ex-vc/cid/1417890
S/L-51 (CONSTITUTIONAL WRIT JURISDICTION)
Ct-13 APPELLATE SIDE
(AD)
W.P. 14114 (W) of 2018
Ms. Tejaswinee Roychowdhury
vs.
West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences &
Ors.
Mr. Pappu Adhikari
... for the respondent nos.1 to 4.
The matter was upgraded at the instance of the petitioner.
However, when the matter is called on today, no one appears in support of the application, nor any accommodation is prayed for.
Let, the writ petition appear, in the monthly list of April, 2019, in its usual turn.
(Ashis Kumar Chakraborty, J.)
If the SJA doesn't do anything even after this then the SJA president must resign. Simple as that. It is blatantly obvious they are trying to delay this and continue their illegal occupation of NUJS.
As stated previously by another commentator, Lord Taluk cannot resign unless the powers (or power) that be whether in the EC or elsewhere allow him to leave. PIB left because these shadowy forces wanted him gone and SJA unknowingly gave them cover. Also let's cut SJA some slack. We may rant here but how many of us turned for the GB?
The reality is this: a new VC will only come when "they" want. That is unlikely to happen in the next few weeks. My guess (based on how Lord Taluk has placed the EC meetings till date) is that the appointment/joining of the new VC will take place when we are away from campus. Not that they fear SJA as such (Taluk learnt to fake it from the best). Still they don't want a repeat of CNLU and NLIU.
So, let's just pipe down, accept certain realities and plan pragmatic workarounds. It is obvious that we have failed to attract a healthy pool of VC candidates. Applies equally for Registrar and AO positions. Worse our university may get burnt by prolonged effects of Flaming Sin. Can you imagine the combination of a political lackey as VC and Flaming Sin? That's a real danger.
Sure the SJA could have and will have to do better. But what about us? If we, as a collective, remain indifferent or conduct couch punditry then the SJA can only do so much and the authorities will know (as they know now) that we pose no threat to their corrupt calculi.
The university just stepped into its adulthood. What we do from hereon will significantly define us and the standing of the university. We can go easy or do the right thing.
JU does what it does and kudos to them. What we need to adopt from them and elsewhere is tenacity, media and alumni outreach et al, and not necessarily the motivations and tactics. That is for the new SJA decide anyway.
If I am TMC why would I want the campus to remain apolitical? I know my Didi Superior has low tolerance for debate and discussion, especially of the political variety. Still I would very much want those to happen. Care to think first, before shooting?
All I wanted to convey was that TMC/CM bashing will do us no good. They and their political opponents and the opportunists, collectively known as Faulty, will be doing things at our expense. Clearly if the GBs are any indication then we have the twin problems of indifferent students and an SJA that is cleary losing the plot. Maybe things will turn around with a new leadership.
I don't know how the SJA was successful with #PIBOut. Some have insightfully mentioned that SJA succeeded then because powerful sections of the EC (aka state govt) wanted PIB out for failing to deliver on the deal that got him the second term. If that's true then SJA should expect a hostile EC because they very much want Lord Taluk to continue; hell, Faulty despite their protestations would also want Lord Taluk to stay.
Anyway, someone had tipped off here that SJA wanted to reach out to DYC. How did that go?
1. Alumni petition against Justice League and Mamata's Army.
2. Writ petition to get the ad for VC re-issued with the 10-year prof rule removed. The need of the hour is an NLU alum as VC. Even someone in their 30s with 10-12 years work ex is enough if he/she has good publications, has taught at reputed institutions and has LLM/PhD degrees from repute universities.
3. Hunger strike.
The students do not read local news and have no idea what Adolf Mamata is up to. She is brutally crushing all universities and stripping them of merit, censoring all her critics, and encouraging her cadres to enact in the worst goondaism India has ever seen: violence, murder, extortion, and stealing savings from the poor through scams like Saradha. Another 2 months of dilly dallying, and you can kiss goodbye to NUJS.
It is highly suspicious why the SJA is not doing anything. I hope my worst fears are not confirmed.
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Your points 2 and 3 have absolutely no relevance to what I have said. If you are incapable of realising that, then you should take classes of logic along with law before you graduate and make a fool of yourself as well as the institution from where you claim to hail.
its true that the delay is because the party establishment is busy with elections. Any decision on VC will be taken only after the elections.
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1. There is no unity in the student body. Between 40 to 60% of students support the present admin and cronies because they have benefited from them: easy marks, attendance etc. These students encourage useless protests like memes, petitions and pointless RTIs because they WANT things to drag on and the status quo to continue. They WANT mediocre faculty who will award them easy marks.
2. As CLAT as grown, NLUs have become super-competitive, IIT-type places. Full of nerds, no guts to protest, everyone only cares about themselves and marks.
3. One of the disadvantages of NUJS's national character is that there are not many students from Cal with contacts/family friends among the elites of the city. Such students could have sought appointments with the eminent lawyers of the High Court Bar, newspaper editors etc and lobbied for support. Instead, during the PIB protests, people were shouting slogans in Hindi and appealing to people in Delhi.
4. In previous years, there were strong links between students and alumni. For example, around 5 or 6 years ago, we saw a few hundred alumni sign an anti-Bhat petition to the CJI (which was eventually not submitted as the SJA decided to give him another chance, based on false promises). In contrast, the present set of students do not maintain such links. On the contrary, they have launched an attack against iPleaders and shoo out alumni who wish to visit for guest lectures.
https://twitter.com/shamnad/status/1102487670670815232
Someone had said the EC/FC/AC records and the annual reports are a bunch of useless/harmless "ancient documents". Then why did successive administrations, including Taluk, Sen & Co. go to huge lengths to deny access and disclosure? Many of us, including myself at times, desire spoon feeding but SJA did a fine job in extracting these "harmless ancient documents".
But point well taken. SJA (maybe the guys who come in next) can devote a team to pore through the records. Don't miss the annual reports. And yes, follow the money
I agree that an endowed lecture should be started in memory of Mr Dipankar Gupta. I hope the university will not bug his son, Justice Ruma Pal, Dr Sondhi for a donation. All are witness to how the donation was abused.
Kian, I seriously urge you to go through the 63rd EC notes on Ford Chair. The humiliation of Justice Tarun Chatterjee was mentioned in the SJA letter to CJI and also in an email sent out today (based on a Q&A session they had with the VC). PIB drove out Shamnad from IPR Chair and abused the Asutosh Mookerjee Chair. Lord Taluk is following suit by going after Justice Chatterjee.
Is Lord Taluk directing a Game of Chairs? Will that involve installing retired regime friendly judges and other party apparatchiks? Was it not enough for Taluk & Sen to p**p university autonomy?
All eyes will be on the EC here as well on 16.03.19 https://www.telegraphindia.com/states/west-bengal/all-eyes-on-executive-council-for-ju-quota/cid/1686407?ref=west-bengal_west-bengal-page
I don't know if our Chancellor cares and not sure if having the Guv as Chancellor would have mattered.
I guess the trick is to prolong the search/selection process and then stage a blame game among the search committee, univ admin and the state govt. We see that happening here.
Know what, I am not even sure if getting a new VC will necessarily do wonders? We are burdened with Faulty and admin flab that are bleeding us dry. That's a pain, which is not going away anytime soon. Justice League has Lord Taluk and Injustice has their Lady InSensitive.
Let the Game of Chairs begin. Lady InSensitive would have preferred we call it Hunger Games.
It is probably a disease of this state to destroy institutions which ran fine till a takeover by the state government. JU is still fighting the good fight but it lost its financial autonomy eons ago to the Reds. The Greens are basically playing the Red playbook. While Lord Taluk p**ped our autonomy, Lady InSensitive has been playing Santa Claus to garner staff support.
Sure govt grants are welcome. But not its diktats to walk a certain line or hire party apparatchiks only, including those without a shred of merit. Till now our financial solvency and autonomy has protected us from external political impositions. But the hollowing out by Taluk and Sen has made us very vulnerable.
Isn't it so ironic that when prestigious autonomous educational institutions are gasping for a financial helpline and governments are asking them to pull their own weight https://thewire.in/the-sciences/tifr-salary-delay-is-tip-of-the-iceberg-of-larger-money-crunch-at-autonomous-bodies; Taluk and Sen are busy eroding our financial solvency.
We know the ad hoc faculty are research staff, including alumni, are paid disrespectfully low. I guess the Faulty would like that continue for very petty reasons. It is also not too difficult how much the Faulty get paid. But do the DEOs really get as high as 70K or higher/month? I saw those figures in the EC/FC.
SJA, old or new, can we get a definitive check on this?
There have been numerous instances wherein the Election Commission have allowed a work-in-progress because they found no evidence or likelihood of electoral processes being subverted et al.
SJA please be alert to such red herrings.
1. JS Patil
2. NK Chakraborty
3. SS Chatterjee
https://indiankanoon.org/doc/1587801/
Misleading the court and suppressing judgements etc. as per this judgement. He should fit right in to the prevailing admin cohort at NUJS.
http://www.nusrlranchi.in/2019/02/01/office-order-dated-01-02-2019-regarding-recruitment-of-vice-chancellor/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPcKjStxUAE
Also interesting that VS Elizabeth had applied for Ranchi VCship and was turned down for being fro the history stream. It was wrong in my view, as she has an LLB. Your PhD can be in a different subject if there is a connection with law. Maybe get her to NUJS?
https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/bhobishyoter-bhoot-aparna-sen-and-soumitra-chatterjee-joins-protest-against-the-film-ban-1474936-2019-03-11
https://indiankanoon.org/doc/185321074/
This suggests it has http://www.nusrlranchi.in/about-us/key-personnel/vice-chancellor/
Because the this man is already shortlisted here http://www.nusrlranchi.in/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/OFFICE-ORDER.pdf
First we almost had to live with a CNLU reject - PIB. Another CNLU reject adorns our AC - Lakshminath. Now we will have to choose from a basket of NLU Ranchi and NLU Lucknow rejects?
Somebody suggested Elizabeth from NLS. I don't think it was useful to reject anyone who did not have a doctoral degree in law. But if that's the law, accept or change or build exceptions into the law. Coming back to Elizabeth, I think you will find quite a bit about her once you read the comments on the LI story on NLSIU VC search process. As polarising as Amita Dhanda at NALSAR. Elizabeth is apparently very temperamental and has killed off flourishing research projects and driven away people due to arrogance.
Speak to a large cross section of NLS folks, alumni and faculty before rooting for Elizabeth. Be careful what you wish for.
https://twitter.com/sommandaloffice/status/1092200652107927553
https://twitter.com/sommandaloffice/status/1092789446825725959
https://twitter.com/sommandaloffice/status/1092490403344015360
Also not everything gets sorted by a protest. NLU Ranchi did and for more than 2 years they suffered administration by an unhinged judicial officer. And what do they get? A VC who has had a terrible record at DSNLU Vizag. VCs are a small part of the solution but can often are the problem or quickly grow into one.
More power to SJA. We are in the Endgame here #WhateverItTakes
I believe the gloves are coming off. Time for another vile administration and its supporters to bite the dust. The deadwood in NUJS must go.
Support #OmitTalukdar #SikhaSentPacking #OccupyNUJS
Kian you previously were the first to break such stories, why the lapse now?
Noojies, I guess we get the administration we deserve. We kept silent and indifferent. We unfairly expect a few students collectively called SJA to do the heavy lifting. But if the SJA is so incompetent as A&A would have us believe (seriously, by playing footsie with admin?) what stopped them or us from doing the things that we so furiously typed here or banter in the campus.
A&A if you really think that playing nice will help you pad up your CV...you are so mistaken. You just p****d yourself and your mates just like Taluk & Sen
Interesting that many of the issues that plague HPNLU seems to afflict us as well. And the band plays on....
Secondly, the exclusive focus on political parties is misplaced. Why forget the Bar and the Bench? To a limited extent even the bureaucracy. You really think that they are without agendas? There is also data to show that dominant politicos usually result in compromised judiciary, bureaucracy etc.
Thirdly, whoever becomes the VC in NUJS will be a stooge (state govt; judiciary etc). It doesn't matter whether he/she wears Green, Red, Saffron, Rainbow etc. Know this, he/she will be here to play us and not for or with us to bring in change.
VC will be someone who has privately agreed to the unstated terms set by the state govt and judiciary. It doesn't matter if that person is coming from Oxbridge or Ivy League. Great (wo)men are usually puny souls. Watch out for the guile. Things are going to get very slippery at NUJS.
"Abandon Hope All Ye Who Enter Here"
By the way, the younger brother of former CJI Thakur was supposed to have come in as the CJ here. But then in Incredible India even Stranger Things happen. Netflix really should do something about this. It will be a runaway hit.
Back to our Game of Chairs. Does this mean that the chess pieces are in place to have VC Vivekanandan installed as the VC here, of course following all the (unstated) rules? I draw three lessons from the bruising experience that the Faulty don't teach in class (but the ones is Gurukuls did) -
1. You can violate the spirit of the law by actually following the law, rules etc
2. As Dark Lords Taluk, Darun, Ray of Light and their minions have shown, they interpret the law (as they please). For them following the law is optional
3. You will understand law and its processes, contexts etc much better if you focus on what Lords, Elves etc actually do and not on what they say or write or hector
Ever since Taimur came to campus, he has methodically delayed/held the ECs on dates when students are usually away or when the campus is clearing out fast. What began as an educated guess (although I am told Faulty advised him) has now become a reality: the SJA and/or alumni can and will do little.
There have been last minute surprises. PIB was a last minute imposition. But Vivekanandan has a very good chance. And we all know lobbying matters. It always has. The candidate who lobbied hardest wins the Game of Chairs (for now).
However, if the Faulty whispers are to be believed then the real action is with Registrar selection. And that really matters. Prolonged SENsational stay will have irreversible Damning effects.
Why this vehement no to Vivekanandan? Or do you know something that others don't. Come on...spin the rumour wheels. By the way, Vivekanandan is apparently "sacrificing" a cushy job at Bennet to "serve" NUJS. That's not entirely true after the 7th CPC hikes that you and I needlessly bear (expecting quality legal education sans corruption).
But Bennett Univ is sponsored by the TOI group who are known to be political chameleons. Right now Saffron is their favourite colour and of course any additional hue lent by Mukesh bhai. The very history of the group is instructive. So I am not exactly sure if VCVK is really the Teflon variety that he is being canvassed to be. Also check these out:
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Judges-panel-for-rejig-of-Nalsar-top-brass/articleshow/11692385.cms
https://www.legallyindia.com/201201312531/Law-schools/nalsar-vc-veer-singh-a-others-accused-of-authority-abuse-fudged-accounts-a-more-by-judges-after-li-rti-stonewalled
https://www.legallyindia.com/lawschools/nalsargate-download-full-judicial-report-on-gold-meddles-distance-learning-a-scorpions-nalsarites-call-off-protest-20120203-2548
https://www.legallyindia.com/201202052549/Analysis/nalsargate-the-inside-story-of-an-institution-and-a-secret-report#comment-27379
Then again a certain Valmiki reportedly penned Ramayan with all its problematic virtues. So who knows VCKV....
Read carefully. Doesn't exactly inspire confidence. Also as the Chancellor of HNLU he did very little to rein in Dukhpal. I seriously doubt he would even join the EC and even if he did it is highly likely that it will be business-as-usual. What incentives does he have to upset the apple cart?
At NUJS, it is the Registrar who is trying to upstage the VC. Ironically, it was Taluk who went out of the way to draft her in.
In this Game of Chairs kindly clarify whether the assertions made by the SJA in their petitions to the CJI or EC have been false or lack solid evidence. From what I know Injustice League had no counter and got badly whupped in the EC.
SAK saw the writing on the wall. You may also consider packing
https://indianexpress.com/article/education/nirf-ranking-2019-to-be-announced-on-april-8-5647399/
Instead, we will trash the data submitted by other law schools and also the ranking system
Certain faculty members objected to VP being put in charge especially when she is facing multiple inquiries relating to distance education mess and running unauthorised centres.
I really don't think NIRF/NAAC will really help right now unless we have had a through clean up. NLS got whacked. With our mess where do you think our ratings will go...and it will remain frozen for an extended period. I am not kidding, NUJS is in real and immediate danger of actually losing its UGC affiliation.
Injustice League got us here. But Justice League is also guilty of inaction despite their access to Lord Taluk. It is so interesting how Lord Taluk and SENsational despite their disagreements, always agree on doing nothing and letting NUJS slide.
NUJS has a far better record ,employee accused of SH is suspended sine die instead of being asked to join back which JU has recommended .
What can M do ,not even the CJI can save such employees.
Ha!Ha!Ha!
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/education/news/there-has-been-a-historic-prejudice-against-private-universities/articleshow/66600397.cms
During her time NLSIU was the only NLU, so candidates went to traditional universities. Dr Dasgupta later did her higher studies form NUJS with distinction.
Your comments show ignorance, class bias, race bias and gender bias against women achievers.
Also how is her publication record relevant in the context of the ridiculous note she has written about NAAC? If anything, that makes it seem even more illogical, because she ought to have known better.
SCC
VVN
JSP
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68tdIZZNpM8[/youtube]