The Student Juridical Association of the National University of Juridical Sciences in West Bengal on Monday demanded the resignation of the autonomous institute’s vice chancellor, Ishwara Bhat, citing maladministration. Their demands follow the release of a review commission report that highlighted the “failure of management and administration of a very large scale”.

“The report shows he is corrupt, nepotistic, undemocratic and despotic, incapable, and incompetent,” the students’ association said in a statement to the media. “Our lived experiences show how several of us have been victims of his blatant casteism and continued inaction against sexual harassment. The hallmarks of his tenure have been three no-confidence motions, stagnation and regression of academic culture.”

The students demanded that Bhat resign by March 28 at 9 am, failing which they would scale up their protest and become more “active and vigorous”. The students’ association said they intended to retain their academic integrity with their protest. “We shall not be obstructing the right to work of any faculty or staff member,” the association’s statement said.