Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen Gets Reprieve From Eviction Notice Issued By Visva Bharati University

The Calcutta High Court granted an interim stay on 4 May, stopping Visva Bharati University from evicting Amartya Sen from 13 decimal of land that is a part of his ancestral house, Pratichi, in Santiniketan, West Bengal.

Justice Bibhas Ranjan De ordered that the learned District Judge, Birbhum, should hear the stay application on 10 May 2023 at 2 pm. The order of the Joint Registrar Visva Bharati & Estate Officer should not be enforced until then or until the stay application is disposed of, whichever is later.

Professor Sen's petition highlights that Rabindranath Tagore leased 1.38 acres of land for 99 years to his father, Ashutosh Sen, in October 1943.

The administration of Visva Bharati University had ordered the Nobel laureate to vacate the 'illegally occupied' land within 15 days as of 19 April.

In a six-page notice, it was stated that failure to comply with the order would result in a decision being made ex-parte.

Earlier, on 17 April, Professor Sen informed the University authorities that his family had been in possession of the land since 1943.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee backed Prof Sen, visited him in January, and gave him the land documents.

Banerjee vowed to join the protest against the University's land acquisition and ordered party leaders to demonstrate outside Sen's house.

Trinamool Congress leaders subsequently established a protest stage outside Prof Sen's residence.

Visva Bharati University officials have urged for peace on campus, requesting the district administration to prevent any violent activity. The university is ensuring surveillance to keep the environment safe.