Tens of thousands of people are expected to participate in a citizens’ convention in Jadavpur University (JU) in south Kolkata on Wednesday, to decide on an action plan to resist the permanent appointment of the interim Vice Chancellor (VC) Abhijit Chakravarti.
Students, faculty members, alumni community member and representatives of the civil society are expected to assemble at the main football ground at the centre of the JU campus. Prof. Chaktavarti’s six-month tenure is coming to an end on October 25.
The students want him out of the University, while the search committee’s letter recommending him as the next permanent VC is lying with the Governor, the Chancellor of the University. The students are also seeking immediate resignation of the VC for calling police into the campus last week.
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Meanwhile, the State government has put its entire weight behind Prof. Chakravarti, while the students are still boycotting academic activities in the institution.
In this context, the representative of the students and the teacher’s associations are expected to decide on whether to continue with the movement or to start a dialogue process with the Authority to slowdown their campaign.