‘It affects NUJS image’: Students complain of campus decay, demand VC ouster over harassment case

NUJS Vice Chancellor Protest: “When we go for internships at law firms, we are often asked uncomfortable questions about having a vice-chancellor facing court proceedings. These aren’t questions we should have to answer.” A student leader’s words reflect the anger driving protests at the West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences (NUJS), Kolkata, where students have demanded their vice chancellor step down by October 31.

For the past four days, students at NUJS, one of India’s premier law schools, have been staging classroom protests – standing silently during lectures wearing black armbands – to show their dissent over what they call systemic mismanagement, lack of financial transparency, falling academic standards and unsafe conditions on campus.

“We decided we will continue to protest, but in a way that doesn’t disrupt academic activities,” a student leader said.

NUJS Kolkata has been ranked the fourth best law college in the National Institutional and Ranking Framework (NIRF) India Rankings 2025.

NUJS Protest: Lack of financial transparency

At the heart of the protests lies the students’ frustration over the NUJS administration’s financial practices. Until recently, committee minutes and financial documents remained inaccessible to the students’ body. “Only after we protested, they’ve all been uploaded,” said another student. “We’ve been asking for a CAG audit for years, but it’s yet to be conducted.”

The matter has become more complicated with VC Nirmal Kanti Chakrabarty being linked to a sexual harassment case. “Our VC has not been convicted. The case is still on,” a student clarified. But they say the situation affects NUJS’s image.

“He’s definitely part of this institution in that capacity, but he does not interact with students directly,” a student said.

Also read Litigation to corporate law: A first-generation lawyer's journey from burnout to breakthrough

NUJS Kolkata: Academic standards, shrinking electives

Students say the number of electives has gone down sharply. “The number of electives have been slashed by half, compared to those five years ago,” an NUJS student said. Electives also start late now. “Until the batch of 2024, students used to get electives from the third year, but the batch of 2025 has to wait till the fourth year.”

They point to differences with other NLUs. “NLSIU Bangalore has 20 electives a semester, from which they get to choose either two or four. We had to choose two electives out of a pool of eight,” they said.

This year, they were initially offered only one elective. “We had to fight. There were multiple meetings after which the VC finally agreed to offer us two electives,” a student said. “Every year, there is some or the other arbitrary change.”

Students also mentioned unusual proposals. The VC had proposed something called the grand viva, where six faculty members will ask a student questions from all the six subjects. “To the best of my knowledge, this does not happen in any university,” the student leader said.

Students' concerns extend to faculty quality, with experienced teachers leaving for better institutions. “A lot of them have left. When a professor with 10-12 years’ experience leaves for NLSIU or NALSAR, rather than international institutes such as Harvard or Oxford, we know there’s a problem. This should not be happening to one of the best law schools of the country,” they said.

And the replacements being hired are less experienced. “They are even worse.”

NUJS campus: Infrastructure, safety issues

Students pointed out that even the basic infrastructure of the five-acre NUJS campus is poor. “Our auditorium is non-functional, and the hostels are in a dilapidated state. Construction has been going on for two to three years with no sign of completion,” said the leader.

Large-scale construction work has made life more difficult. "In 2022, the campus was more beautiful, with more trees. Now it looks completely different,” the student added. Renovations drag on, leaving students to cope with half-finished facilities.

Hostel facilities, especially for girls, are abysmal. “Washrooms were under renovation for an entire month while we had to use them. It was horrible. Female students couldn’t access the washrooms when workers were present,” a student said.

Also read GLC Mumbai: Asia’s oldest law college struggles with falling academic standards, fund crunch

“Most projectors, plug points don’t work. Air conditioners break down every two months, and every single classroom has water damage,” the leader said.

Classroom conditions have become hazardous with widespread water seepage, malfunctioning equipment, and exposed electrical wiring during the monsoon. “There is a lot of seepage in the classrooms, and it worsens when it rains. They get flooded, and it’s not safe,” a student said.

Complaining about unhygienic conditions on campus, one student said: “There were snakes roaming around”. Girls in a separate hostel had to get food delivered inside because they were afraid to step out.

Students report multiple injuries from slips and falls, including one where a student suffered spinal damage. “We’ve had disabled students fall down… people on crutches. It’s that bad,” one student said.

Also read India sees massive law college surge; Tamil Nadu leads with 390% growth, UP has most courses

After months of inaction, students took matters into their own hands. They purchased and installed anti-slip mats throughout the campus.

Classes are often disrupted not by protests but by the weather. Heavy rains have led to cancellations because many professors could not reach campus. On days when classes do take place, students say the protest will continue.

NUJS VC: Resignation calls ‘premature’

NUJS VC Nirmal Kanti Chakrabarti has rejected students’ demand for his resignation calling such calls “premature” and refusing to set a precedent of stepping down under student pressure. “That precedent I will not accept,” Chakrabarti told Careers360, while acknowledging that he is already 70 and would hand over the charges once a successor is named.

Chakrabarti said that a search committee to appoint the next vice chancellor was formed in June. One meeting has already taken place, another one is scheduled for October, so a new VC could be expected within a month.

On the issue of financial irregularities, he said these had already been audited and approved by the Executive Council. He also said that the harassment complaint was time barred, rejected by the High Court on limitation grounds and is now pending before the Supreme Court. “There are two paragraphs, I am not to comment or speak on that,” he said