A fresh controversy has erupted at Ram Thakur College, Agartala, after Principal Papri Das Sengupta alleged that local political leaders tried to interfere in the ongoing admission process. The accusations have sparked debate over political influence in higher education institutions across Tripura.
Speaking to the media, Sengupta said tensions escalated when a group of outsiders entered the campus without permission, allegedly kicking at doors and creating a commotion. The incident reportedly followed her refusal to entertain demands for “undue favours” in student admissions.
“Three self-proclaimed leaders from different city constituencies came with a list of 400 names and insisted we admit them,” Sengupta revealed. “We explained that the process is completely online and there is no room for manual intervention by the college.”
According to the principal, the group was dissatisfied with the response, and soon after, videos criticising the college authorities surfaced on social media. She confirmed that the list of names had been forwarded to the Higher Education Department for review, but reiterated that merit-based admission is non-negotiable.
“We cannot allow students with lower marks to be admitted over those with higher scores,” she stressed.
Previous Incidents of Misconduct
This is not the first time Ram Thakur College has faced issues related to admissions. Sengupta disclosed that a professor was recently suspended for engaging in unethical admission practices. Additionally, some students were disciplined for allegedly using forged signatures of the principal to gain admission benefits.
College Capacity Increased
In response to growing demand for seats, Ram Thakur College has expanded its intake capacity to 1,870 seats for the current academic year. Despite this, certain courses remain in high demand, creating competition among students and parents.
State-Wide Admission Scenario
The controversy comes amid wider debates on higher education accessibility in Tripura. State Higher Education Minister Kishor Barman recently stated that there is no shortage of college seats in the state, with around 33,000 seats available compared to 24,000 students who passed Higher Secondary this year.
However, Barman acknowledged that due to the merit-based allocation system, some students might not get into their preferred colleges, leading to disputes in high-demand institutions like Ram Thakur.
Political Influence Under Scrutiny
The latest allegations have once again raised questions about political interference in academic institutions. While the state government insists that college admissions are conducted through a transparent online process, incidents like the one at Ram Thakur College highlight challenges in enforcing these rules at the ground level.
The Higher Education Department is expected to review the forwarded list and take appropriate action, though no official statement has yet been released.
For now, Principal Papri Das Sengupta remains firm on her stand — that the integrity of the admission process must be upheld at all costs, even in the face of external pressure.