Is the Kolkata College Principal's FIR Against CM Mamata's Sister-in-Law Justified?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- An FIR has been filed against the principal of a Kolkata girls' college.
- The case raises questions about caste discrimination and political influence.
- The Calcutta High Court has intervened, questioning the legitimacy of the college's governance.
- Concerns about the timing of the FIR suggest possible ulterior motives.
- This incident highlights ongoing issues within the educational system in India.
Kolkata, Sep 19 (NationPress) In a remarkable turn of events, an FIR has been lodged against the principal of a prestigious girls' college in Kolkata, who previously contested a ruling made by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s sister-in-law, Kajori Banerjee, in her capacity as the president of the college's working committee.
The FIR was officially filed on September 12 at the Shakespeare Sarani Police Station, but details emerged just recently, revealing that the complaint was submitted a day after a single-judge bench of the Calcutta High Court, led by Justice Bivas Pattanayak, issued an interim stay on the show cause notice and suspension order against Srabanti Bhattacharaya, the principal of the esteemed Rani Birla Girls' College, which was imposed by Kajori Banerjee.
During the proceedings, Justice Pattanayak raised concerns regarding Kajori Banerjee's position as president of the college's working committee, questioning how someone who is not an education professional could hold such a role in a reputed undergraduate institution. Justice Pattanayak emphasized that according to legal standards, the president of a college's management committee should ideally be an individual with a background in education. He noted the lack of evidence showing Kajori Banerjee’s qualifications in this field, stating, “It needs to be seen whether her appointment was legal or not.”
The day after these critical remarks from the Calcutta High Court, it became known that Mantu Das, a Hindi teacher at the same college and from a socially disadvantaged background, had filed an FIR against the principal, accusing her of caste-based humiliation.
In his complaint, Das alleged that despite being associated with the college since 2014, he faced humiliation from Srabanti Bhattacharaya since her appointment as principal in 2022.
The principal has strongly refuted these allegations and has chosen not to comment further, as the issue is reportedly linked to a pending case in the Calcutta High Court.
Nonetheless, political and academic circles are questioning the timing of the FIR against the principal. Observers are asking why Mantu Das waited three years to file the FIR when he claims to have faced humiliation since 2022, especially at a time when a critical hearing regarding the college was underway at the Calcutta High Court.