JU students hold phase 1 of referendum on controversy over VC

The first phase of a students' referendum on whether Jadavpur University Vice-Chancellor Abhijit Chakrabarti should resign for calling in the police to break up a gherao on the night of September 17 was held today.
Around 87 per cent students of the 2,900-strong Arts faculty voted during the two-day referendum.
Chiranjit Ghosh, general secretary of the students' union told PTI that in the second phase of the referendum to be held on November 11-12, students from two other faculties of Science and Engineering would take part.
To ensure transparency in the referendum they have also appointed external observers like Human Rights activist Sujato Bhadra.

During the referendum, the question whether the VC should resign or not was asked to the students and their choice reflected on ballot papers.
Such a referendum would, however, not have any official validity, but would build up pressure on the VC to put in his papers if the students vote against him.
JU students have been protesting for over a month against the VC for calling the police inside the campus during a gherao seeking a fresh probe panel on a student molestation case.
Student unions have, in the meantime, withdrawn their class boycott call and students were returning to classes, but have abstained from officially recording their attendance.