NUJS V-C Ishwara Bhat resigns amidst student protests

Kolkata: Amidst protest among a section of students demanding his resignation, Vice-Chancellor of West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences (NUJS) Prof Ishwara Bhat tendered his resignation on Wednesday. .

It is learnt that in his letter to the Chief Justice of India and Chancellor of NUJS, Justice Dipak Misra, Bhat wrote that he wants to tender his resignation that will come into effect from April 7, i.e after the meeting of the Executive Council.

"....It has been a great privilege and honour to serve this University which I have done with full sincerity, in accordance with law and to the best of my ability. However, due to health and family reasons, I would be unable to serve the University in the capacity of Vice-Chancellor...," his letter reads.

After the recently released Review Commission report acknowledged lapses in the administration of the University, the Students Juridical Association (SJA) at NUJS has been staging a demonstration at the varsity gate demanding immediate resignation of the Vice-Chancellor. The agitation that began from Monday intensified on Wednesday with the students delivering an ultimatum to the Vice-Chancellor to resign by March 28.

"The Vice-Chancellor Ishwara Bhatt is dismissing all grievances of the students and has been indifferent towards problem faced by the students. He is showing preference to a section of students and is favouring fatalism, " a SJA representative said.

Bhat has also revealed in his letter that he will be placing the report of the University Review Commission before the Executive Council in its next meeting, as instructed by Justice Misra.