Nobel laureate Amartya Sen | Photo credit: The Hindu
Visva-Bharati University has issued a show-cause notice to Nobel laureate Amartya Sen, asking why an eviction order should not be issued against him for not vacating the 13 Decimal plot, which he is allegedly in illegal possession of.
The eminent economist has been asked to respond to the notice by March 24 and appear before Ashok Mahto, joint registrar and estate officer of the central university, in person or through a representative by March 29, with evidence in support of Sen’s claim that he is not in unauthorized occupation of any plot
“If you and your authorized representative fail to appear on the said date, the matter may be decided ex parte,” the notice said.
Mr. Sen, 89, who is now abroad, or his family members could not be reached for comment.
The university is claiming that Mr. Sen has 1.38 acres of land in the Santiniketan campus, which is more than his legal entitlement of 1.25 acres.
The economist had earlier claimed that most of the land he owned in the Shantiniketan campus was bought by his father from the market, while some other plots were taken on lease.
“I call upon you to show cause on or before March 24, 2023, as to why the order of eviction should not be passed against you…” the estate officer said in the notice dated March 17, available to the media on Sunday.
Visva-Bharati had sent him three other messages in the last two months, reiterating that he was illegally occupying the public premises.
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“I call upon you to appear before me in person or through a duly authorized representative capable of answering all material questions relating to this matter, as well as the evidence which you show cause on March 29, 2023 We intend to appear in support of the matter at 4:45 pm for personal hearing,” Mr Mahto said in the latest communication from the university.
Visva-Bharati spokesperson Mahua Banerjee claimed that Mr. Sen neither replied to any earlier letter sent by the university nor took any follow-up action, leading to this notice.
“We have no problem if he appoints someone, but we hope he will respond to the notice this time,” he added.
Ms. Banerjee said Visva-Bharati is treating Mr. Sen’s issue as no different from other such land grab cases and steps are being taken to free all illegally occupied plots.
There have been allegations from some quarters that the university’s action may be politically motivated as Mr. Sen has been critical of several policies of the present central government.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had come out in support of the economist during a visit to his residence in Birbhum district in January and handed over land documents to the eighty-year-old while he was at Santiniketan.
Visva-Bharati sent two letters to Mr. Sen on the issue within three days in January.