North Bengal University impasse: VC seeks Guv''s intervention

Siliguri, Dec 24 (PTI) North Bengal University Vice- Chancellor today sought Governor M K Narayanan''s intervention in ending an impasse since last two weeks over the executive council''s refusal to take action against some students for ragging.

Vice-Chancellor Arunabha Basu Majumder has written to the governor, who is also the Chancellor of the varsity, seeking his intervention in the issue, officials said.
On November 17, the university''s anti-ragging committee in a surprise visit to three boys'' hostels caught 17 students while they were ragging some newcomers, who had been stripped off their clothes and beaten up.

Following the incident, the committee recommended suspension of six students for two years, one year suspension for five and suspension for one semester to three others.
The accused students were members of Students Federation of India, CPI(M)''s student wing, an official of the anti- ragging committee had said.

The recommendations of the committee were, however, rejected at the executive council meeting.The proposal was rejected by 6-5 votes with one member in the 12-member council preferring not to vote.

The six members were against the suspension as well as constitution of anti-ragging committee, which according to them was not constituted as per UGC directive.
The vice-chancellor, however, said the executive council was informed about the formation of the anti-ragging cell.

Describing the stalemate as "unfortunate", the VC said abiding by the university norms he had taken up the matter with the Chancellor.

Meanwhile, three members of the anti-ragging committee -- Jyotish Basak, Debiprasad Boot and Nikhilesh Roy -- have resigned, while three others, including the chairman, have threatened to quit if their recommendations were not implemented.