WB Govt announces five-member probe committee

West Bengal Government today announced a five-member committee to investigate the alleged harassment of a girl student in Jadavpur University and will submit its report 'as soon as possible'.
Calcutta University Vice Chancellor Suranjan Das would the chairman of the committee, state Higher Education Minister Partha Chatterjee told reporters here.
The other members of the probe panel are chairman of the governing body of Netaji Subhas Institute of Asian Studies Nrisingha Prasad Bhaduri, School Service Commission chairman Subhiresh, Bethune College principal Sangita Tripathi Mitra and head of department of St Xaviers' College mass communication and journalism Ananya Chakraborty, he said.

"The committee will try to submit its report regarding the girl's allegations of being sexually molested as soon as possible," the minister said.
It has been decided that the panel will preferably submit its report within 72 hours as the girl and her family had personally approached the chief minister demanding a neutral probe.
The education department wants the probe to be completed quickly as per Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's order and after getting the report the education department would hold a meeting with the chief minister to decide on its next step, the minister said.

"The Education department has taken this initiative as per Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's instructions after the girl had personally requested her to look into the matter," he said.

Asked why the decision on forming the panel was taken two days after the girl had asked for an independent probe into the matter, the minister said 'certain rules' needed to be followed before an investigation could be started.
"It (investigation) cannot be started suddenly. People who are associated with the university know the process. The Internal Complex Committee (ICC) is there and it will work as per the university rules," he added.