Patna, (Bihar Times): A group of 40 academics from
Delhi’s three premier universities, besides other
institutions, submitted a memorandum to President
Pratibha Patil on Monday to revoke the suspension of
Prof Nawal Kishore Chaudhary, head of the department
of Economics, Patna University. He was suspended for
his remarks against the Chancellor-cum-Governor, R S
Gavai, more than three months back.
The copies of memorandum to the President was also
sent to the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the Bihar
Governor, Union human resources development minister
Arjun Singh, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and UGC
chairman Sukhadeo Torat.
The academics from Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi
University, Jamia Millia Islamia and other prestigious
institutions termed Prof Chaudhary’s suspension as an
attack on freedom of expression, the autonomy of
universities and their democratic functioning and also
an assault on the dignity of teachers.
Incidentally Chaudhary’s suspension was followed by
the unceremonious sacking of the then Vice-Chancellor
of Patna University Y C Simhadri. The latter earned
the displeasure of the state human resources
development minister, Brishen Patel, when he left for
France without, what the minister said, informing the
state government.
In the meeting of Patna University Senate on December
29 last Chaudhary, flayed the autocratic style of
functioning of the Chancellor. He also questioned the
issue of Chancellor’s absence from that meeting. The
academics from Delhi also complained that the recent
dictates from the office of the Chancellor to the
universities of Bihar have shaken the very foundations
of the universities.
Many students’ organizations, besides, teachers,
strongly condemned his suspension and paralyzed the
functioning of Patna University for a few days.
However, his suspension is yet to tbe revoked.
Chaudhary’s case only confirms the chaos in the higher
education in the state.