The Student Juridical Association (SJA) of the West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences (WBNUJS) has appealed to its Chancellor, Chief Justice of India Dr. DY Chandrachud, to suspend the university’s Vice-Chancellor over allegations of sexual harassment made by a professor.
The students' letter cites the professor's claims of harassment by the Vice-Chancellor from September 2019 to December 2023, including delayed salary, denial of promotions, and professional threats in retaliation for resisting the Vice-Chancellor's alleged demands. The letter criticises the dismissal of the complaints and the Vice-Chancellor’s attempts to bypass legal procedures and abuse his power, which the students say violates the university's Staff Ethics and Code of Conduct (MCC).
The letter condemns the Vice-Chancellor’s alleged retaliation and indifference from the university administration and other staff members.
The students reference the NUJS Policy on Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal of Sexual Harassment, which defines sexual harassment and mandates a safe work environment. They argue that the arbitrary dismissal of the professor's claims undermines NUJS's principles and creates an unsafe environment for students, particularly those who are victims of harassment.