Calcutta High Court on Wednesday set aside a showcause and the subsequent suspension of a Visva Bharati assistant professor.

The Visva Bharati authorities had on February 24, 2021, showcaused Rajesh Kaleerakath Venugopal, assistant professor of Rabindra dance and drama at the varsity’s Sangeet Bhavana, asking him to clarify why action would not be taken against him for negligence in duty and misconduct.

Sources in the varsity had accused the Visva Bharati authorities of adopting a vindictive attitude towards Venugopal as he is the secretary of university teachers’ organisation Adhyapak Sabha.

The sources said the authorities, particularly vicechancellor Bidyut Chakrabarty, were allegedly opposed to some activities of the Sabha and hence, the action against Venugopal.

After receiving the reply to its showcause, the authorities appointed the acting registrar general to conduct a probe against Venugopal on February 27, 2021.

After getting the acting registrar general’s report, the authorities suspended Venugopal on March 13 last year.

Venugopal moved the high court in February this year against the varsity’s order. After hearing the submission of the counsels of both the sides, Justice Moushumi Bhattacharya issued his order on Wednesday.

In the order, the judge held: “This Court is of the view that since the Registrar (Acting) did not have the power to initiate disciplinary action against the petitioner, who is an Adhyapaka of the University, the defect of jurisdiction goes to the root of the matter and nullifies all subsequent steps taken thereafter.”

The order added: “The Chargesheet and the order of suspension are hence without authority and should be quashed on that basis.”