Netaji Subhas Open University has issued an order barring its employees from “speaking to any kind of press/media/ social media on any matter related to the university without prior permission”.
An order signed by the registrar on Monday said employees were disallowed from speaking without prior permission “issued in favour of such member/authority in writing by the vice-chancellor”.
“Any violation and/or noncompliance of this order shall invite the disciplinary action as the appropriate authority may deem fit and proper,” the order said.
The teachers' association on Tuesday submitted a memorandum to the registrar demanding immediate revocation of the “unfair order”.
Representatives of the association said when they held a news conference in April about the absence of a vice-chancellor triggering an academic and administrative deadlock in the open university, the Bengal governor in his capacity as the chancellor had been forced to take note and appoint an officiating VC.
Now the same teachers, who are also employees of the university, are being barred from speaking to the media by the VC, teachers' association president Manan Kumar Mandal said.
Calls and text messages to officiating VC Chandan Basu and acting registrar Asit Baran Aich went unanswered.
“This gag order will only vitiate the academic ambience on the campus,” said Mandal.
The teachers had called a news conference on April 10 to highlight the “administrative deadlock” because of the absence of a VC. The tenure of interim VC Ranjan Chakrabarti had ended on March 14 and the post was vacant till Basu was appointed on April 16.
