NCST issues second notice to Visva-Bharati over ST professor appointment
Synopsis
The NCST has escalated its probe into alleged irregularities in Visva-Bharati University's ST Associate Professor appointment by issuing a second notice — this time with a seven-day deadline and a warning of constitutional summons. The university's silence since February has turned a recruitment dispute into a potential constitutional confrontation.
Key Takeaways
The NCST has issued a second notice to Visva-Bharati University over alleged irregularities in the ST Associate Professor appointment in the Bengali Department .
The university was first asked for a report in February 2025 but did not respond.
Vice-Chancellor Dr Probir Kumar Ghosh has been directed to submit a full compliance report within seven days .
Failure to respond could result in university authorities being summoned under constitutional powers .
Kalyani University Associate Professor Tushar Patua filed the original complaint in January 2025 , alleging eligible ST candidates were excluded from the interview.
No official response has been issued by Visva-Bharati authorities as of the date of this report.
The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) has issued a second notice to Visva-Bharati University (VBU) authorities in Kolkata, demanding a detailed response over alleged irregularities in the appointment of a Scheduled Tribe (ST) candidate as Associate Professor in the university's Bengali Department. The commission has set a seven-day deadline for compliance, warning that non-response could result in a constitutional summons.
Background of the Complaint
The matter traces back to January 2025, when Kalyani University Associate Professor Tushar Patua filed a written complaint with the NCST, alleging multiple irregularities in the recruitment process for the post of Associate Professor (ST) in VBU's Bengali Department. Patua alleged that eligible candidates were excluded from the interview without adequate justification.
The NCST initiated an investigation based on the complaint and first sought a report from the VBU Vice-Chancellor in February 2025. The university did not respond to that notice, according to a government official.
What the Second Notice Demands
In the fresh notice, the commission has directed Vice-Chancellor Dr Probir Kumar Ghosh to submit a comprehensive report covering all information related to the complaint and details of any action taken — within seven days. The NCST has explicitly stated that if a response is not received within the stipulated period, the university authorities may be summoned under powers vested in the commission by the Constitution of India.
The Controversy Over Recruitment
The appointment process has been mired in dispute since early this year. In January, a preliminary list published after interviews for posts of Assistant and Associate Professor in the Bengali Department triggered objections from several candidates, who questioned the selection criteria and the grounds for their exclusion. The interview process was subsequently postponed and eventually completed in May, but controversy over the Associate Professor (ST) appointment persisted.
Complainant Patua has argued that the university's continued silence has only deepened suspicions about the fairness of the recruitment process. There has been no official response from Visva-Bharati authorities on the matter.
What Happens Next
With the seven-day deadline now in force, attention in academic and tribal-rights circles is focused on whether VBU will respond or face a constitutional summons from the NCST. The commission's willingness to escalate — invoking its constitutional authority — signals that it views the university's silence as a serious institutional failure. How Visva-Bharati responds in the coming days will determine whether this dispute moves toward resolution or formal proceedings.
Point of View
It points to a deeper institutional disregard for tribal rights compliance in higher education. The university's non-response since February is not administrative delay; it is a pattern that the NCST is now treating as grounds for a summons. Reserved-category appointments in central universities are among the most scrutinised and most violated provisions of India's affirmative action framework — and Visva-Bharati, a university of national importance, should be setting the standard, not testing constitutional limits.
NationPress
21 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has the NCST sent a notice to Visva-Bharati University?
The NCST sent the notice because of alleged irregularities in the appointment of an ST candidate as Associate Professor in Visva-Bharati University's Bengali Department. The commission is investigating a complaint that eligible candidates were excluded from the interview process.
Who filed the complaint against Visva-Bharati University?
Kalyani University Associate Professor Tushar Patua filed a written complaint with the NCST in January 2025, alleging multiple irregularities in the ST Associate Professor recruitment in VBU's Bengali Department.
What does the NCST's second notice demand?
The notice directs Vice-Chancellor Dr Probir Kumar Ghosh to submit a detailed report on the complaint and any action taken within seven days. The NCST has warned that non-compliance could lead to a constitutional summons of university authorities.
What happens if Visva-Bharati does not respond to the NCST notice?
If the university fails to respond within the seven-day deadline, the NCST may invoke its constitutional powers to summon the university authorities directly for questioning.
What is the status of the Associate Professor recruitment at Visva-Bharati?
The interview process, which was initially postponed after controversy over a preliminary candidate list in January 2025, was completed in May 2025. However, the appointment of the Associate Professor (ST) remains disputed, and no official response from VBU has been issued.
