Election Commission issues show-cause notices to 50 Raiganj University professors over absence from poll training

The Election Commission has issued show-cause notices to 50 professors of Raiganj University for remaining absent from a polling training camp. According to university sources, the commission had sent appointment letters about a week earlier assigning the professors the role of Presiding Officers for the upcoming election process. However, many professors questioned the appointment, arguing that the responsibility did not match their salary scale and grade pay.

Several professors also stated that they were unable to participate in election duty because of the pressure of academic responsibilities, including teaching, evaluation of examination papers and ongoing research work. In response to the situation, the university’s Vice-Chancellor Arnab Sen reportedly wrote to the Election Commission requesting exemption for the professors from poll-related duties. Despite the request, no exemption was granted. As a result, the professors remained absent from the scheduled voting training session. Following this, the Election Commission issued show-cause notices to all 50 professors last Thursday seeking explanations for their absence. Professor Amit Mandal said that responses had already been submitted to the notice and that most professors shared the same stance regarding the matter.

He added that under the National Education Policy, academic activities are already under pressure due to the shortage of teachers compared to the number of students. According to him, engaging teachers in election work would make it difficult to complete academic courses within the stipulated time. University Registrar Durlav Sarkar also said the university is currently managing examinations, evaluation of records for nearly ten thousand students and ongoing research activities. He stated that the situation has been communicated to the district election officer by the vice-chancellor, though no reply has yet been received while the notices have already been issued.