Kolkata, Sept. 1 -- The National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) has sought an action-taken report from Jadavpur University and the Kolkata Police commissioner within seven days in connection with a complaint by research scholar Nikhil Das alleging caste-based abuse, harassment and threats to kill.

In a communication to the university vice-chancellor (V-C) and the police commissioner, the NCSC said it had decided to investigate the complaint received from Das on August 22 under the powers vested in it by Article 338 of the Constitution. Das is a research scholar at the School of Water Resources Engineering.

The commission has sought details of the alleged incident, the accused persons, the FIR, sections invoked, arrests, charge sheet or final report, and compensation provided under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and rules, if applicable. It warned that failure to respond within seven days could lead to the exercise of its civil court powers, including summons to the authorities or their representatives.

Das, who is also president of the university's ABVP unit, said, "I was attacked with obscene language on the basis of my caste. I lodged a complaint with the commission. The commission has given the authorities one week, but so far no one has contacted me or enquired about my physical or mental condition."

Meanwhile, JU V-C Chiranjib Bhattacharya issued an appeal on Tuesday urging students, teachers, officers, employees, researchers and other stakeholders not to undertake wall writing, graffiti, poster writing or similar activities indiscriminately on university walls and structures. The university said designated areas could be used for such forms of expression.

The appeal followed the recent controversy over wall writings, including slogans that had been removed by the authorities following Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari's criticism and fresh writings put up by SFI students in protest. Bhattacharya said the university's traditions of "freedom of expression and democratic participation" were integral to its legacy, while urging stakeholders to preserve the "beauty, cleanliness and dignity" of the campus.

The V-C also said that no writing or form of expression should be "provocative, derogatory, offensive" or prejudicial to national unity and integrity, or likely to hurt the sentiments or dignity of any individual or group. The university said the appeal was intended to balance freedom of expression with responsibility towards the institution.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.