Professor Subha Sankar Sarkar has resigned as the head of the five-member inquiry committee formed to probe the recent vandalism at Jadavpur University. He stepped down after expressing his inability to lead the probe effectively from a distance.
Professor Sarkar sent an email to Vice-Chancellor Chiranjib Bhattacharya on Saturday to inform him about his decision.
He stated that an online inquiry is not effective enough because the probe requires regular face-to-face talks with people who were present on the campus during the incident.
The committee was formed after a clash broke out between Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad members and left-wing student groups in the early hours of August 20.
Both sides accused each other of bringing outsiders to the campus and causing vandalism.
Teacher and student organisations had earlier raised questions over the appointment of Professor Sarkar and raised concerns about fairness.
The university administration will now appoint a new chairperson for the inquiry committee soon.
