The West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences (WB NUJS) is scheduled to welcome a new Vice Chancellor (VC) when the institute reopens following the Puja vacation in November. University officials have confirmed that a search committee recommended three names to the Chief Justice of India (CJI), BR Gavai, who also serves as the Chancellor of WB NUJS. The CJI is understood to have given the final approval to Dr OV Nandimath.
Officials added that a letter will be sent to Dr Nandimath, asking him to take charge as the new VC by November 3. Dr Nandimath brings nearly 28 years of experience in law teaching, research, and consultancy. A WB NUJS student, reacting to the news, said, “We are happy with this news."
Meanwhile, speaking to the media, the outgoing VC, NK Chakrabarti, said: “My term is already over. I am here on extension till the new vice chancellor joins.”
The announcement follows a period of intense student protests at WB NUJS in Kolkata in September, with demonstrators demanding Chakrabarti’s resignation amid serious allegations of financial mismanagement, misconduct, and sexual harassment. The student body had issued an ultimatum, threatening to begin a “full-scale protest” in November if the VC did not resign by October 31.
The protests occurred shortly after the Supreme Court's observation in a 2023 sexual harassment complaint against Chakrabarti: “It is advisable to forgive the wrongdoer, but not to forget the wrongdoing. The wrong… committed against the appellant may not be investigated on technical grounds, but it must not be forgotten. Chakrabarti may be forgiven but allowed to haunt the wrongdoer forever.” The complaint, filed by a faculty member, alleged harassment between 2019 and April 2023.
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