CUJ Professor Suspended For Inviting JNU Teacher To Event

Ranchi: An associate professor of the Central University of Jharkhand (CUJ) has been suspended by the Vice-Chancellor for inviting a Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) professor to an event to mark Sardar Patel’s birth anniversary earlier this month.

Shreya Bhattacharji, an associate professor, has been accused by the government-run Central University of Jharkhand of "tarnishing" the institution by inviting JNU professor MN Panini to the event.

The invitation to “a person of disputed integrity” had led to Jharkhand Governor Draupadi Murmu cancelling her visit to the university as chief guest for the event. The order also said Bhattacharji had invited Panini without informing the Vice-Chancellor, and that her actions amounted to “misconduct”.

Speaking of the incident, Panini said: “The program was initially supposed to happen several months ago but was eventually finalized for March 19. At the time, the Vice-Chancellor spoke to me over the phone and said he was happy to invite me for the lecture. I had asked them to book me ticket via Delhi from Mysore where I stay. When I reached Delhi on the 17th, the Vice-Chancellor called me again and said that the program had been cancelled.” Panini added that he was “appalled and deeply upset” by the action taken against Bhattacharji. 

The order specifically relieves Bhattacharji of all her responsibilities at CUJ. She is the dean of school of languages, dean of school of education and dean of students' welfare. It also prohibits her from leaving the CUJ headquarters in Brambe without prior permission of the Vice-Chancellor Nand Kumar.