RBU registrar dismissed from service by univ authorities

Kolkata: The registrar of Rabindra Bharati University (RBU), Subir Maitra, has been dismissed from service by the university authorities following a decision made during a recent Executive Council (EC) meeting. The acting registrar informed Maitra of his dismissal in a letter sent on Thursday.

Previously, on January 15, Maitra was suspended by the interim vice-chancellor (V-C) of the university following a Calcutta High Court order related to accompanist teachers. Allegedly, Maitra failed to comply with a single-bench order, a subsequent order from the Higher Education department and the EC’s decisions to comply with the court’s order, leading to contempt of court charges. The Court then ordered his suspension.

Subsequently, the EC of the university decided to initiate disciplinary proceedings against Maitra to investigate several alleged irregularities. The enquiry officer submitted his report and findings on November 5. The letter conveying the dismissal stated that the report and Maitra’s reply were placed before the EC in the meeting held on December 4. The EC members decided to accept the report and findings of the enquiry officer and resolved to award the punishment of ‘dismissal from service’ with immediate effect.

The EC also decided that, due to his dismissal, Maitra would not be entitled to any retirement or other financial benefits. Furthermore, the university reserves the right to recover any financial losses incurred due to his actions from any amounts owed to him. In response, Maitra has taken legal action against the dismissal. Counsel for Maitra stated: “We have served legal notices for civil and criminal defamation to all EC members present at the meeting, including Subhro Kamal Mukherjee and Asish Samanta (acting registrar), demanding damages of Rs 60 lakh each, along with an unconditional apology within 15 days.”