Kolkata: Chairperson of National Commission for Women (NCW) Rekha Sharma said on Thursday that Professor Kanak Sarkar of Jadavpur University should be permanently removed from the varsity for his misogynistic comments on a Facebook page.
Sharma reached Kolkata on Wednesday and sent a team to the university to probe into the allegations against Sarkar, a professor in the department of International Relations of JU. She will visit the JU campus and speak to the students, who alleged that Sarkar had made similar comments on a number of occasions. The NCW has also summoned Sarkar to depose before the Commission in a week.
"We have taken suo motu cognizance of the matter. My team visited the campus on Thursday for the sake of investigation. A number of girls have alleged that Sarkar has been responsible for making indecent comments against them on several occasions. Hence, I would want him to be permanently removed from the varsity," Sharma said.
NCW chairperson Sharma said she would like to personally speak to the girls who have subjected to Sarkar's indecent comments.
It is learnt that Sharma had spoken to Vice-Chancellor Suranjan Das over phone. The V-C had requested her not to visit the campus as the students are staging a protest demonstration over the issue.
"Our chairperson would have come but the V-C is not in the city. We have spoken to some of the students. We will continue our probe," a NCW member who visited the campus said on Thursday.
Jadavpur University (JU) has already debarred Prof Kanak Sarkar from entering the university campus until the probe initiated against him is completed.
A meeting was held between the students and the teachers of the department at the university on Wednesday where the students have expressed their grievances against Prof Sarkar's logic about women on a Facebook page.
They also questioned his behavior towards female students.
Sharma has also expressed her desire to meet Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and speak to her in this regard.
Sharma on Tuesday wrote to the state Director General of Police requesting him to investigate the matter and take appropriate action as per the relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code.
JU V-C Suranjan Das had condemned the act of Sarkar and said he has not only blackened his face but also sullied the image of the institution.
"This is not the only incident but he has been harassing students from for years now. He's a repeat offender," said Dwaipayan Sarkar, a member of the United Students' Democratic Front- (USDF).