Jadavpur University probe panel reconstituted, second judge added after SFI-ABVP clashes
Synopsis
Jadavpur University has bolstered its campus clashes probe by adding a second former judge to its Judicial Inquiry Commission — a move that signals the administration is taking the August 19-20 SFI-ABVP violence seriously. With two ex-judges now on the panel, the inquiry carries greater legal weight, even as the Acting V-C separately urges students to rein in campus graffiti.
Key Takeaways
Jadavpur University reconstituted its probe panel on Tuesday , adding former district and sessions judge Samaresh Prasad Chowdhury as a new member.
The Judicial Inquiry Commission is chaired by retired Calcutta High Court Justice Pranab Kumar Chatterjee and now has two former judges .
The probe covers clashes between SFI and ABVP on the JU campus on 19 and 20 August .
Presidency University's Soumendu Chattopadhyay is the third member; Sumanta Jana will serve as presentation officer.
Acting Vice-Chancellor Chiranjeev Bhattacharya separately appealed to students for restraint on wall writings and graffiti within the campus.
Jadavpur University (JU) on Tuesday reconstituted its judicial inquiry panel probing the August 19 and 20 campus clashes between the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI-M]'s student wing, Students Federation of India (SFI), and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s student wing, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). A second former judge has been inducted into the three-member Judicial Inquiry Commission, strengthening its legal composition ahead of a full investigation.
Reconstituted Panel: Who's On It
According to a notification issued by JU authorities, the commission continues to be chaired by retired Calcutta High Court Justice Pranab Kumar Chatterjee. Former district and sessions judge Samaresh Prasad Chowdhury has been added as a new member, bringing the number of former judges on the panel to two.
The third member is Soumendu Chattopadhyay, Director of the Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) at Presidency University. Sumanta Jana, a micro analyst from Jadavpur University, will serve as presentation officer, while Pranab Kumar Halder, Junior Superintendent of JU's Law Cell, has been appointed Secretary of the committee.
Background: What Triggered the Inquiry
The commission was originally constituted to probe a series of incidents on the main campus of Jadavpur University on 19 and 20 August, during which clashes erupted between SFI and ABVP workers. The commission's mandate is to determine the root cause of the incidents, the circumstances that led to them, and how the situation escalated.
At an earlier meeting of the commission, Chairman Justice Chatterjee had indicated that additional members could be inducted if the university administration deemed it necessary. The latest reconstitution follows through on that provision.
Acting V-C's Appeal on Campus Expression
Separately, Jadavpur University's Acting Vice-Chancellor Chiranjeev Bhattacharya on Tuesday issued an appeal to students urging restraint in wall writings, graffiti, and poster campaigns within the campus. Bhattacharya stated that while freedom of expression would be upheld, the 'beauty, cleanliness and dignity' of campus structures must be preserved. He called on students to use designated spaces for expressing opinions.
What Comes Next
The reconstituted Judicial Inquiry Commission is now expected to resume its proceedings with its expanded membership. The probe's findings will be critical in determining accountability for the August clashes, which have drawn attention to the long-standing political rivalry between SFI and ABVP on one of West Bengal's most prominent campuses.
Point of View
Or whether the report, like many university inquiry reports before it, quietly shelves itself. The SFI-ABVP rivalry on JU's campus has a long history; without structural intervention, a probe panel alone is unlikely to break the cycle. The Acting V-C's parallel appeal on graffiti, while reasonable, risks appearing cosmetic if the underlying political tensions on campus go unaddressed.
NationPress
2 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has Jadavpur University reconstituted its probe committee?
Jadavpur University reconstituted its Judicial Inquiry Commission to strengthen its legal composition by adding a second former judge. The panel was originally formed to probe campus clashes between SFI and ABVP on 19 and 20 August, and the chairman had earlier indicated more members could be added if needed.
Who are the members of the reconstituted JU inquiry commission?
The commission is chaired by retired Calcutta High Court Justice Pranab Kumar Chatterjee. Former district and sessions judge Samaresh Prasad Chowdhury is the newly added member, and Soumendu Chattopadhyay of Presidency University's IQAC is the third member. Sumanta Jana serves as presentation officer and Pranab Kumar Halder as Secretary.
What triggered the clashes at Jadavpur University in August?
Clashes broke out on the main campus of Jadavpur University on 19 and 20 August between SFI, the student wing of CPI-M, and ABVP, the student wing of BJP. The judicial commission is tasked with determining the root cause, circumstances, and how the situation escalated.
What did JU's Acting Vice-Chancellor say about campus graffiti?
Acting Vice-Chancellor Chiranjeev Bhattacharya on Tuesday appealed to students to exercise restraint in wall writings, graffiti, and poster campaigns. He said freedom of expression would be maintained but called for the use of designated spaces to protect the cleanliness and dignity of campus structures.
What happens next in the Jadavpur University probe?
The reconstituted Judicial Inquiry Commission is expected to resume proceedings with its expanded membership. Its findings will determine accountability for the August clashes and could shape how the university addresses political tensions between student groups going forward.
