The Jadavpur University (JU) professor who made objectionable remarks against women on Facebook has been relieved indefinitely from his teaching duties on Wednesday. The development comes days after the professor Kanak Sarkar urged men to seek virgin brides and compared virgin women with “sealed bottles” on his Facebook post.
“In view of the recommendation of the student-teacher committee of the Department (International Relations), Prof. Kanak Sarkar is divested of his teaching duties with immediate effect. Substitute arrangements would be decided in the meeting of the Board of Studies scheduled on January 18, 2019,” Head of the International Relations Department Omprakash Mishra said in a statement.
The JU Vice Chancellor Suranjan Das has also taken a stern view of Sarkar's remarks. “Sarkar’s remarks are unacceptable and has maligned the image of the University. Strong action will be taken against him,” said Das.
The National Commission for Women(NCW) and the West Bengal Commission for Women(WBCW) has already taken cognisance of the matter. While an NCW has written to West Bengal’s Director General of Police, its state counterpart has sought an explanation from Sarkar. University authorities have instructed Sarkar to send his explanation to the WBCW.
Sarkar’s remarks have generated severe discontent among students and they have boycotted his classes. There have been several protest demonstration at the University against Sarkar. Even as Sarkar deleted his post soon after the controversy erupted he sought to justify his remarks as freedom of speech. He cited the Supreme Court judgment which struck down Section 66 of the IT Act.
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