Jadavpur University will engage mental health professionals to talk to the family of the student who has been forced to leave home because of domestic violence.

The student has been staying in the university’s guest house on the campus since Tuesday evening.

The 23-year-old woman has as much right to stay at her home like any other family member and she cannot be driven to a point where she has to leave home because of domestic violence, a university official said.

The student has accused her father and brother, who according to her has a developmental disorder and has been extremely impatient during this prolonged confinement at home, of physical abuse. “There are ways to take care of the mental health of such patients who get violent during confinement… they need to get him counselled,” the university official said. “We suspect they are unaware of the magnitude of the problem. Maybe mental health professionals can wake them up to the reality.”

Chiranjib Bhattacharjee, the pro vice-chancellor, said they would contact mental health professionals once the lockdown was lifted.

“The university has to speak to her before taking any step. She is an adult and her consent is a must before the university takes any step. The authorities must know from her what she wants,” Anuradha Kapoor, director of Swayam, a Calcutta NGO working on violence against women, said.

The student had contacted the NGO.

In her mail to the West Bengal Commission for Women's Rights on April 15, the final year student had said: 'Some well-wishers have requested the VC of Jadavpur University to grant me shelter. I feel this is the most favourable arrangement as: a) My parents cannot barge into the campus whenever they please to drag me home, b) It is my place of learning, my fellow students and my professors are there, c) It's the best possible ambience for me to carry on to focus on studies better, and d) It will save on commute time to my classes. I would like to shift to my university hostel as soon as possible, if honourable VC sir can kindly arrange'.

She had said in the mail that her mother was 'a silent spectator' and at times took part in the abuse as well.

Ishita Sanyal, psychologist and founder-director of Turning Point, an NGO engaged in mental health rehabilitation, said matured parental care for children with developmental disorder was crucial during the pandemic.

Another university official said the woman's parents should get counselled.

Pro-VC Bhattacharya said the university would file a report with Jadavpur police station, detailing how a student had to seek a shelter on the campus because of violence at home. The university will request police to get in touch with Narendrapur police station and seek an explanation from the family on this.

The woman's residence is in the Narendrapur police station's area.