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Journalism of Courage
The University Grants Commission (UGC) is learned to have found Jadavpur University’s second reply on the alleged ragging and sexual harassment of a first-year student leading to his death also “unsatisfactory”, the higher education regulator’s chairman M Jagadesh Kumar told The Indian Express. The UGC, he said, will write to the varsity again “for a detailed explanation and action.”
This is the second report sent the university to the UGC. The first one too, sent last week, was found to be unsatisfactory by the Commissions as it was too “generic” in nature and didn’t list any proactive measures taken by the administration. The regulator had sought a factual and action-taken report on death of a 17-year-old student who was allegedly a victim ragging and sexual harassment.
The UGC had asked JU if an affidavit is signed by an applicant regarding clear knowledge of the anti-ragging provisions of the regulations and punishment, and whether the joint counselling is conducted for freshers and seniors within the first two weeks of the beginning of the session.
“UGC has found that the second reply sent by Jadavpur University is unsatisfactory. The Commission will soon be writing again to JU for a detailed explanation and action. Ragging is a serious issue, and JU must follow UGC regulations in letter and spirit to provide a safe environment for our students,” M Jagadesh Kumar said.
The West Bengal government has also formed a four-member committee to probe into the administrative lapses in the case. The committee is expected to turn in its report in two weeks. A total of nine students of JU, including both the current and the former, have been booked by the police in relation to the incident.
