UBKV VC lodges complaint against registrar over citizenship

 

COOCH BEHAR, Dec. 12: The vice-chancellor of Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya Lodged a complaint to the police yesterday against the registrar who was dismissed on 4 December. Following the complaint a police picket was posted at the UBKV's Pundibari campus to prevent any untoward incident.

 

It was learnt that the vice-chancellor Prof Mrinal Kanti Majumder lodged the complaint against Dr Parimal Chandra Sarkar alleging that the later is creating trouble in the functioning of the university though he was dismissed on 4 December. Expressing suspicion over the genuineness of Dr Sarkar's Indian citizenship it was also mentioned in the complaint that Dr Sarkar had acquired citizenship on 25 March 1977 and he studied in school, college and university levels in Bangladesh till December 1976.

 

Dr Sarkar said he know nothing about the complaint and the content in it. When contacted the VC said Dr Sarkar is no more an employee of UBKV but he is sponsoring disturbances here. Without mentioning anything about the complaint submitted to the police he said the matter was intimated to the district magistrate and the superintendent of police.

 

Cooch Behar SP Mr Anil Kumar said they got the complaint and started a preliminary inquiry into the allegations. The competent authority may review the authenticity of the citizenship certificate that was issued to Dr Sarkar. A police picket was posted at the university on security ground following the VC's request, the SP said.

 

Meanwhile, it was learnt that a joint secretary from the state agriculture directorate would visit the UBKV's Pundibari campus within a day or two to inquire about the alleged 'illegal dismissal' and the citizenship of Dr Sarkar.

 

On the otherhand, Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya unit of West Bengal University Officers' Association (WBUOA) observed a one-hour token strike at UBKV in Cooch Behar today as they did yesterday. WBUOA unit secretary Dr Mrigendra Ghosh claimed that the one-hour strike is being held at all the eighteen universities in this state from 2 pm to 3 pm today. It will continue till Friday, he said.

 

Commenting over the citizenship issue Dr Ghosh said issuance of citizenship is done following government procedure. Dr Sarkar will certainly co-operate during any inquiry over it. At the same time he mentioned that they are not demonstrating in favour of the citizenship or qualification of the registrar. It is the responsibility of the appointing authority to check the authenticity of citizenship or qualification. "In his order the VC dismissed the registrar without mentioning any reason and so we came out to support him as a colleague to ensure justice to him", he said.

 

Mentionworthy, unrest started at the Pundibari campus of UBKV in Cooch Behar since 4 December over dismissal of its registrar Dr Parimal Chandra Sarkar. Since issuance of the order the vice-chancellor Prof Mrinal Kanti Majumder did not attended his office at the UBKV till today. He is performing his official works from his residence. Normal functioning of the university was disrupted on today too due to demonstrations.

 

WBUOA is conducting a stir since 4 December demanding withdrawal of the dismissal order. The dismissed registrar, Dr Sarkar had joined the UBKV on a two-year lien from Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya in June of this year. []