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Cachar College incident: ACPC regards it as unfortunate, condemnable & as an insult
Aug. 22: Board of Secondary Education Assam (SEBA) has conducted the Grade III and Grade IV written examinations on 21 August. Elaborate preparations were made under the directions of Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma to keep the process free & fair. In this connection, on the day of the exam, Principal of Cachar College, Silchar, Dr Siddhartha Shankar Nath was detained & then arrested by the Police on the basis of a complaint lodged by the Deputy Commissioner, Rohan Kumar Jha on alleged charges of not performing the duties properly and misbehaviour. He was later on released on bail on Sunday late night.
It was further alleged that Assistant Centre-in-charge of Cachar College, Dr Swadesh Ranjan Das was ‘manhandled and physically assaulted’ by the Deputy Commissioner of Cachar. However, the Observer of this exam Dr S Lakshmanan (former DC of Cachar) denied of any such physical assault upon Dr Swadesh Ranjan Das. Rather, he too pointed out irregularities and non-cooperation exhibited by the Cachar College authorities during the conduct of the said examination on Sunday.
It is in this connection that an emergent meeting of Assam College Principals Association (ACPC), Assam University Zone was held today in virtual mode to discuss and decide over the course of action to be undertaken against the ‘unfortunate and unexpected incident’ which happened with Dr Siddharth Shankar Nath, Principal of Cachar College, Silchar in connection with the conduct of written exam for Grade III & IV conducted by SEBA on Sunday. In the said meeting, ACPC termed both the ‘incidents as most unfortunate, condemnable and as an insult to the dignity of the post of a Principal and a teacher.’ Sources revealed that Dr Swadesh Ranjan Das was also present in the said meeting and narrated the ordeal he faced.
ACPC also decided to come into contact with Assam College Teacher’s Association (ACTA), All Assam College Employees Association and College Librarian Association following which future course of action will be chalked out ‘so that such type of incidents does not recur in the future.’
Meanwhile, it was also learnt that Dr Swadesh Ranjan Das has lodged a written complaint to the ACTA Unit of Cachar College. In response to it, the President of Cachar College Unit of ACTA has convened an emergent meeting on 23 August, 2022 to decide on the issue raised by Dr Das.
Also, Assam University Teachers’ Association (AUTA) on Monday strongly condemned the unceremonious detention of their former colleague, the present Principal, Cachar College, and the district administration’s physical assault upon a teacher of the same college for alleged delay in collecting examination materials.
AUTA observed a ‘Black-badge’ day on 22-08-2022 to register its protest against the gross violation of standard law enforcement protocol and the incidence of indignation and humiliation of teachers. Even Vice Chancellor of the varsity, Prof Rajive Mohan Pant wore black badge and joined the protest. It needs mention here that the present Principal of Cachar College, Dr Siddhartha Shankar Nath was an employee of the University who is on lien at present as the Principal of Cachar College, Silchar.
