In a statement Tuesday, the institute said its Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) had received a written complaint under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act (POSH Act) against Sarkar.
“The ICC expressed its concern and apprehension in proceeding with a free and fair inquiry … when Prof Sahadeb Sarkar is occupying the position of director-in-charge and recommended his removal from the said post and any other position wherein he has administrative charges, during the pendency of formal inquiry before the ICC and any proceedings arising therefrom or incidental thereto,” the statement said. “The said measure was stated to be a requirement for the ICC to ensure that impartiality may be maintained.”
The board of governors met on January 6 and accepted the recommendation of the ICC, it said.
This is the third change at the institute’s top position in three years.
Sahadeb Sarkar had succeeded Uttam Kumar Sarkar, the second consecutive institute director to resign before completing a five-year term. Before him, Anju Seth, the first woman director of IIM-Calcutta, quit in 2021, a year before her term was to end, citing a “breakdown in confidence” between her and board chairperson Shrikrishna Kulkarni.Chattopadhyay had previously served as the director of IIM-Calcutta from 2013 to 2018.
