Rabindra Bharati University registrar faces contempt of court charge

The registrar of Rabindra Bharati University is under scrutiny as a division bench headed by Chief Justice T. S. Sivagnanam upheld the suspension order imposed by a single bench. The case involves allegations of contempt of court against the registrar, who reportedly failed to comply with a court order to raise the retirement age of music teachers to 65. The petitioner, music teacher Partha Ghosh, asserted that despite directives from the High Court and rules dating back to 1985, retirement letters were issued at the age of 60.

In a hearing before Justice Kaushik Chander, the judge directed the university to grant the petitioner a retirement age of 65, along with payment of arrears and other benefits. However, the registrar did not adhere to the court's order, leading to the contempt of court charge. Justice Chand observed the registrar is arrogant. The single bench was ordered to suspend him. The registrar's lawyer cited the vice-chancellor's order and the registrar's illness as reasons for non-compliance, but the Chief Justice directed them “You go to the single bench. Say there he (Registrar) is not arrogant. He used it for his situation."