Cooch Behar, Nov. 6 -- Cooch Behar Panchanan Barma University has dismissed Political Science professor Kartik Das over allegations concerning the validity of his Scheduled Caste certificate used during his appointment. The decision was taken at the university's working committee meeting on Thursday, Registrar Madhav Chandra Adhikari confirmed.
"The professor has been terminated. The dismissal letter will be sent to his residence as well as by email," Adhikari said. Repeated attempts to contact Das for his response were unsuccessful. Das was appointed to a Scheduled Caste-reserved post in 2018. Subsequently, several organisations, including the BJP's Scheduled Caste Morcha, questioned the validity of his caste certificate. Following an inquiry, Cooch Behar Sadar Sub-Divisional Officer Govinda Nandi cancelled the certificate, stating that it had not been issued in accordance with the prescribed rules.
The university later issued a show-cause notice to Das. According to university sources, he was dismissed after allegedly failing to provide a satisfactory response. BJP Scheduled Caste Morcha district president Rajkumar Karji demanded a thorough investigation into the alleged recruitment irregularities. "From the then Education minister to the vice-chancellor and Registrar, several people are involved in corruption. We also demand the recovery of the salary drawn by Kartik Das so far," he said.
Meanwhile, the Joint Forum for the Protection of the Constitutional Rights of Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes held a press conference on Friday. Its president, Prabhachandra Barman, demanded action against the then vice-chancellor and Registrar, questioning the circumstances surrounding Das's appointment. He also raised questions about Das's earlier employment at Mathabhanga College and his alleged use of a caste certificate issued in another state.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.