In a significant development at Jadavpur University (JU), the head of the English department, Professor Saswati Halder, has been asked to proceed on leave until the end of January. This move comes amidst an ongoing investigation into a hijab-related controversy that has stirred the campus.
The Directive from University Authorities
The five-member fact-finding committee established by JU to probe the incident formally requested Vice-Chancellor Chiranjib Bhattacharjee to relieve Halder from her current responsibilities until the inquiry concludes. Acting on this, the VC's office called Professor Halder for a meeting on Tuesday afternoon.
An official familiar with the proceedings stated that the Vice-Chancellor informed Halder that students were adamant about her removal from duty during the investigation. Consequently, she was advised to take leave. Although Halder expressed a wish to complete a scheduled Board of Studies (BoS) meeting on Thursday, she was instructed to begin her leave from Wednesday itself.
Sequence of Events and the Leave Application
Officially, the university maintains that Professor Halder applied for leave for personal reasons from January 7 to January 30, and the application was accepted by VC Bhattacharjee. However, sources indicate the application was submitted "under pressure" following the meeting.
A senior faculty member revealed that Halder was deeply distressed after the interaction with the VC. She returned to the department, conducted an examination, and then sent the email applying for leave. Professor Halder has not responded to attempts to contact her for comment.
Root Cause: The December Hijab Incident
The entire situation stems from an event on December 22, when Professor Saswati Halder, as the English HOD, asked two third-year undergraduate female students to remove their hijabs during an examination on grounds of suspected malpractice. This action triggered immediate discontent among sections of the student body.
Two days later, on December 24, a group of JU English students staged a protest by walking onto the convocation stage holding posters that read, "No space for Islamophobia in JU." The demonstration forced the university to swiftly constitute a panel to investigate the matter, leading to the current fact-finding committee.
Implications and Next Steps
The university's decision to ask the department head to go on leave underscores the sensitivity of the issue and the administration's attempt to ensure a fair probe. With Halder on leave until January 30, the fact-finding committee is expected to continue its work without her administrative influence. The campus community now awaits the committee's findings, which will likely have significant repercussions for campus policy and inter-community relations at one of Bengal's premier educational institutions.
