Jadavpur University clash: Inquiry panel chief declines appointment amid RSS affiliate opposition

The Akhil Bharatiya Rashtriya Shaikshik Mahasangh (ABRSM), a teachers' organization linked to the RSS, has raised objections to the composition of the inquiry committee tasked with investigating the recent clash at Jadavpur University (JU) in Kolkata. The organization protested the appointment of Professor Shubha Shankar Sarkar as the committee's chairman, citing his previous removal from a key government position due to irregularities in school teacher recruitment.

Professor Sarkar, a 70-year-old retired individual, also mentioned his ineligibility to chair the committee due to his current location and lack of time to fully engage with the investigation process. The ABRSM further questioned the presence of JU Deputy Registrar Dr Abul Hasnath in the committee, expressing doubts about his eligibility based on the alleged conflicts of interest.

The teachers' group emphasized that any prior legal or institutional controversies involving committee members could undermine the credibility of the inquiry. They demanded the formation of a fresh and "genuinely independent" committee, preferably comprising retired judges and experienced investigators with no apparent conflicts of interest.