The Central University of Jharkhand (CUJ) on Thursday revoked the suspension order of Assistant Professor and Dean of Student Welfare Dr Shreya Bhattacharya after getting a report from three-member probe committee formed by the university administration. The committee though found Dr Shreya violating the norms by inviting JNU Professor MN Panini without giving him a written invitation.
“Many events have taken place since the programme was conducted at CUJ on March 19. These led to Professor Panini staying back and not attending the function. The probe committee report has many points however the most significant one among them is that Dr Shreya Bhattacharya did not invite Professor Panini in writing, which is the due process,” said CUJ Vice Chancellor Professor Nand Kumar Yadav.
“Though there were many points in the report. We followed the democratic process and revoked the suspension order,” said the VC adding, “Dr Bhattacharya got some sort of leverage.” However, he could not make it clear what leverage the suspended professor got and from which quarters of the university or any other influential people from outside.
The suspicion of Dr Bhattacharya had attracted large-scale criticism from all quarters as the news spread in national media. Even the Raj Bhawan of Jharkahnd reacted very strongly to the suspension order of the university that mentioned name of the Governor in it. The Raj Bahwan had asked the University to make correction in its suspension order and make things clear before the media.
Dr Bhattacharya was suspended allegedly for inviting JNU professor NM Panini as Guest of Honour to attend 140th birth anniversary celebrations of Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel in the university on March 17-19. As per the suspension order the JNU invitee was considered mentor of the group of students of JNU who was involved in anti-national activities on JNU campus recently.
The suspension notice stated that Bhattacharya invited Panini without prior permission and the invitation to Panini without verifying his credentials, led to criticism from different quarters of society.