Kolkata, Sept 18: The working committee of South Calcutta Law College (New Campus) in Kasba, which drew national attention earlier this year following the rape and murder of a student on its premises, on Thursday refused to accept the resignation of Vice-Principal Noyna Chatterjee.
Facing criticism over her administrative role in the aftermath of the crime, Chatterjee had tendered her resignation earlier this week. An urgent meeting of the college’s working committee was called on Thursday to decide the matter. After deliberation, members rejected her resignation and requested her to continue in the post for some time. Working Committee President and Trinamool Congress legislator Ashok Kumar Deb personally urged Chatterjee to stay on, and she agreed, according to a college insider.
During the meeting, members also discussed the continued presence of graffiti on the campus featuring the name of the prime accused, Monojit Mishra, a former student and contractual staffer. It was decided that the graffiti would be removed after the college reopens following the upcoming festival vacation.
Mishra, identified as the main perpetrator, was accused of raping and murdering the student. Two other students, Jaib Ahmed and Pramit Mukhopadhyay, were charged as facilitators in the crime. Mishra was reportedly close to influential leaders of the ruling party, while the other two accused were active members of the Trinamool Chhatra Parishad (TMCP), the students’ wing of the Trinamool Congress.
Chatterjee’s role came under scrutiny after reports suggested she had overlooked Mishra’s criminal background while approving his contractual appointment and even allowed him unrestricted access to college facilities. Questions were also raised about her interactions with the accused on the day of the incident.
The case continues to cast a shadow over the college’s administration and political links.
