Four years after being suspended and later reinstated, a professor at Visva Bharati University has turned to the Right to Information (RTI) Act to uncover the status of two committees tasked with resolving his disciplinary case and others like it. Sudipta Bhattacharyya filed the RTI on July 28, 2026, amid growing unrest among faculty members who accuse the university administration of suppressing facts and delaying justice in long-pending disciplinary matters.
Disciplinary Proceedings and Committee Changes at Visva Bharati
The disciplinary cases in question began during the tenure of former Vice-Chancellor Bidyut Chakrabarty. In 2024, the university established a committee led by Justice Pranab Kumar Chattopadhyay to review multiple unresolved faculty disciplinary cases. However, when Probir Kumar Ghosh took over as Vice-Chancellor in 2025, this committee was disbanded. It was replaced by a three-member civilian committee composed entirely of Executive Council members who receive salaries or pensions from the university.
The Visva-Bharati University Faculty Association (VBUFA) has criticized this replacement, calling it a conflict of interest. They argue that the new committee’s work may have overridden or altered the findings of the original Justice Committee, undermining the university’s earlier assurances to the Calcutta High Court that it would follow the Justice Committee’s recommendations.
Key Facts About the Disciplinary Cases and RTI Application
- Sudipta Bhattacharyya was suspended from January 7, 2021, to September 29, 2022, following a complaint he filed regarding an alleged irregular appointment.
- Despite his reinstatement, Bhattacharyya has not received salary arrears for approximately one year and nine months of suspension.
- The disciplinary committee assigned to his case reportedly never met him or submitted a report.
- Show-cause notices, chargesheets, and suspension orders were issued by the registrar, who, according to Visva Bharati’s Statute 5(4)(a), lacks authority to initiate disciplinary action against faculty.
- VBUFA has demanded the withdrawal of all show-cause notices and chargesheets, including those against Bhattacharyya and former VBUFA leader Kausik Bhattacharya.
- The RTI application requests copies of reports from both the Justice Committee and the subsequent three-member committee.
- VBUFA has threatened to pursue appeals under the RTI Act if information is not provided promptly.
Why This RTI Application Highlights Broader University Issues
The RTI application and accompanying faculty protests reveal deeper concerns about how Visva Bharati is managing disciplinary proceedings. VBUFA alleges that the administration’s approach has been inconsistent and selective, with some cases resolved while others linger indefinitely. They also point to recent penalties imposed on faculty, including compulsory retirement and withheld promotions, as signs of arbitrary decision-making.
Additionally, the association has raised concerns about the delay in processing promotions, citing the example of Anindita Saha, an associate professor eligible for promotion since 2016 but only redesignated in 2020 after a Calcutta High Court order in 2024.
VBUFA has called on the university to set clear deadlines for resolving all pending disciplinary matters, clear outstanding salary and pension dues, and comply fully with court orders by withdrawing unjustified charges and penalties.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What prompted Sudipta Bhattacharyya to file the RTI application?
A: After being suspended and reinstated, Bhattacharyya sought clarity on the status and findings of two committees assigned to his disciplinary case, as well as others, due to delays and lack of transparency.
Q: Why is the replacement of the Justice Committee controversial?
A: The new three-member committee consists of university Executive Council members who may have conflicts of interest, and there are allegations that it altered or ignored the Justice Committee’s recommendations.
Q: What actions is the Visva-Bharati University Faculty Association demanding?
A: VBUFA wants all pending disciplinary cases resolved promptly, withdrawal of show-cause notices and chargesheets, payment of salary and pension arrears, and adherence to court rulings regarding faculty promotions and penalties.
