DHE’s instruction compels Cachar College authority to allow Ananda Ghosh to enter college

way2barak, Sept.9: The Secretary- Principal of Cachar College, Dr Siddhartha Sankar Nath along with the Governing Body seems to be caught on the wrong foot. Since March 2021, the college authority debarred one of its permanent teacher to enter the college campus on the ground of “maintenance of academic atmosphere”. For more than 16 months, he was not allowed to enter the college, while at the same time, he was paid full salary. His salary was not disbursed for 2 months (January & February 2021). No reason was intimated to the teacher for not providing him salary of these 2 months.

Meanwhile, Director of Higher Education (DHE), Assam, the employer of all college employees (Principal, teaching & non-teaching staff of colleges) during his recent visit to Silchar had instructed the Principal to allow Ananda Chandra Ghosh to be allowed to enter into the college and perform his regular duties. Following this, an emergent meeting of the Governing Body (GB) of the college was held on 7 Sept, 2022. After the meeting, the college Principal informed Sri Ghosh, “You are hereby allowed to enter in the college with immediate effect.”

The Principal of Cachar College, Dr Siddhartha Sankar Nath through a letter written to Ananda Chandra Ghosh on 8 March, 2021 asked him not to enter the college citing a Governing Body Resolution dated 6 March, 2021. Ananda Ghosh while speaking to the media (on 31 August, 2022) informed that the letter sent to him on 8 March, 2021 stated:

“The G.B. reiterate its earlier stand against Sri Ananda Chandra Ghosh regarding immediate Suspension/ Transfer/ Termination resolved earlier vide Resolution No. 1 (b) & (c) dated 31/07/2020 & Resolution No. 1 (a) dated 08/10/2020 of GB meeting. Further Sri A.C Ghosh be debarred from entering in to the college until any communication received from the competent authority for upholding and restoration of smooth, healthy academic atmosphere in the college. However, he cannot leave the station without due permission from the competent authority .Further more he is to receive all kinds of communication from the college through peon book etc. and also he is asked to communicate with college authority through postal service (Speed Post).”

Dr Ghosh then filed a suit at Gauhati High Court in this regard. “The High Court vacated the resolution adopted by the GB. I went to the college in April 2021 and showed the High Court order, after which I was allowed to enter. I submitted a copy of the verdict along with an application and requested the Principal to allow me to resume normal functioning. The High Court specifically stated that it is not the GB or the Principal, but the appointing authority of college teachers is the DHE Assam. Any such action against college employees can only be taken by the DHE. However, the Principal dishonoured the verdict of the High Court and I was not allowed to enter the college. I tried to enter multiple days, but the security guards stopped me at the main gate. However, I was paid my full salary for this tenure even when I was denied entry into the college.”

On 30 August, 2022, when DHE Assam, Dharmakanta Mili came for an enquiry against the Principal of Cachar College, Dr Ananda Ghosh came inside the college without any obstruction. As per reports, when DHE called the teachers to know their views, Dr Ghosh was also present along with his other colleagues inside the Principal’s room. Dr Ghosh too gave a written representation to the DHE Assam on that day. It was learnt that the DHE told Ananda Ghosh to come to college regularly.

Just with the exit of the DHE Assam from Silchar, Principal Cachar College, Dr Siddhartha Shankar Nath came back to his usual form. On 31 August, 2022, he once again forbade Dr Ananda Chandra Ghosh, Asstt professor of the Department of Political Science to enter the college. When the security guards of the college debarred him to enter, immediately, Ananda Ghosh sat for a protest demonstration just outside the main gate of the college. President of the ACTA Unit of Cachar College, Md. Samsuddin, Secretary Khajen Basumatary ACTA Zonal Secretary Hemanta Bora, other ACTA members Dr Ratan Kumar Das, Dr Sudip Das along with others were seen to stand besides him during his dharna.

On that day, President of the Governing Body of the College, Sashankha Sekhar Dhar called Ratan Kumar Das and also had a talk with Ananda Ghosh. The GB President assured Dr Ghosh that a special GB Meeting shall be convened and the issue will be resolved. On getting this positive assurance from the GB President, Ananda Ghosh temporarily suspended his agitation and went back at home.

Finally, on 7 September, 2022, a GB Meeting was convened by Dr Siddhartha Sankar Nath. In the meeting, it was resolved that for the greater interest of the students and the college, Ananda Chandra Ghosh “is to perform his duties as Asstt Professor, Dept of Political Science of the college with immediate effect.” He was also asked by “to obey the rules & regulations of the college as usual.” Enclosing a copy of this resolution, the Principal, Dr Siddhartha Sankar Nath wrote on that very day (7 Sept, 2022) “You are hereby allowed to enter in the college with immediate effect.”

On receiving the letter on 8 September, Ananda Chandra Ghosh resumed duty on that very day. Confirming this Sri Ghosh said, “I am happy to be back to the college. I also performed invigilation duty of TDC Even Semester Examination.”

However, what seems to be confusing is the fact that the Governing Body of Cachar College which resolved to “Suspend/ Transfer/ Termination” Ananda Chandra Ghosh on 6 March, 2021 and also debarred him to enter the college premises suddenly seem to realise that it is neither the Principal nor the Governing Body, but rather the Disciplinary Authority, that is, the Director of Higher Education (DHE) who has got such powers to show cause or suspend any employee. Moreover, the DHE too asked Sri Ghosh to come to college regularly and also instructed the Principal to allow him. Moreover, while adopting resolution by the GB against Ananda Ghosh on 6 March, 2021, it seemed to have truncated know-how of the Provincialised Rules, wherein there is no provision of “transfer” of college teachers, which they had resolved! 

Meanwhile, sources revealed that many more such “wrongs” committed by the present dispensation of Cachar College, Silchar will also have to be “corrected” soon on the direction of the higher and appropriate authority.