Professor Debnarayan Bandhopadhyay, a former vice-chancellor of a university in Bengal, has taken legal action by issuing a defamation notice to Governor CV Ananda Bose, who also serves as the chancellor of state-aided universities. This action was prompted by Governor Bose's recent statement in which he made claims about allegations of corruption and sexual harassment involving some vice-chancellors. Professor Bandhopadhyay, the former V-C of Bankura University, has now requested an apology from the Chancellor regarding this statement.
The notice sent in response to the Governor's remark emphasizes the need for the identification of a specific group of individuals who have been defamed, distinguishing them from the broader community. It asserts that Governor Bose should pay damages totalling Rs 50 lakhs and issue an apology within 15 days to rectify the damage done to Professor Bandhopadhyay's reputation and image.
The notice further specifies that failure to comply with these demands would compel Professor Bandhopadhyay to pursue appropriate legal action for defamation, which could include both civil and criminal proceedings.
In response to this development, the Bengal Assembly speaker criticized the notice sent by Professor Bandhopadhyay to the Governor. According to the constitution, the speaker, Biman Banerjee, stated that neither civil nor criminal cases can be initiated against a Governor. He emphasized that this restriction is clearly delineated in the Constitution and is not a new development, suggesting that those attempting such actions may be motivated by a desire for publicity.
