The Calcutta High Court has issued a directive to Jadavpur University, instructing the institution not to invite any political functionaries to its programs. This decision comes in the wake of incidents involving the alleged damage to West Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu’s vehicle during his recent campus visit.
The directive was issued by a division bench led by Chief Justice T S Sivagnanam, which also includes Justice Chaitali Chatterjee (Das). The court emphasized that university functions should be restricted to academic participation, highlighting the need for an environment conducive to educational pursuits rather than political involvement.
This ruling was part of the court’s response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that raised concerns about ongoing lawlessness and indiscipline within the university. The petitioner claimed that these issues stemmed from politically affiliated student factions creating unrest. Notable disturbances were reported on March 1, coinciding with Minister Basu’s visit, which led to protests and a student being injured allegedly by the minister’s car.
Amidst these reports, the court has also been urged to enhance security measures on campus. The petitioner has requested the deployment of armed state government police or central forces, overseen by Kolkata Police, and the establishment of a permanent police outpost within the university grounds.
In addition to security enhancements, the PIL calls for the formation of a special investigation team to examine all criminal activities associated with the university and to secure the safety of staff and students alike.
Responding to the court’s concerns, the university’s counsel reported that a virtual meeting led by the vice-chancellor on March 15 had resulted in decisions aimed at improving operational smoothness. The court has subsequently ordered the university to submit an affidavit detailing the implementation of these decisions within three weeks, when the matter will be revisited.
The bench further noted the inadequacy of private security agencies currently managing campus safety, questioning their effectiveness given the history of numerous FIRs linked to university incidents since 2014.
