Amartya Sen files petition in court against Visva-Bharati over land dispute

Amartya Sen on Thursday knocked on the court's door accusing Visva-Bharati of trying to evict him. Visva-Bharati authorities have written to Amartya Sen several times asking for the return of the land even going to the extent of calling him a "land grabber."

Suri (West Bengal): Nobel laureate economist Amartya Sen has finally knocked on the court's door accusing Visva-Bharati of trying to evict him. A petition was filed in the Suri District Court on Thursday and it will come up for hearing on May 15. However, the Visva-Bharati authorities issued a notice to Amartya Sen mentioning May 6 as the deadline for vacating the land.

Nobel laureate Amartya Sen's 'Pratichi' house in Shantiniketan apparently has 13 decimals of additional land, according to Visva-Bharati. Visva-Bharati authorities written to Amartya Sen several times asking for the return of the land, even going to the extent of calling him a "land grabber."

Vice-Chancellor of Visva-Bharati Bidyut Chakraborty have been attacking Bharat Ratna Amartya Sen while speaking at various events. Ignoring the condemnation, Visva-Bharati authorities put up a notice on the gate of Amartya Sen's 'Pratichi' house, ordering him to vacate the land by May 6. A warning notice has also been issued to Professor Sen that Visva-Bharati authorities will use force if necessary.

Trisha Rani Bhattacharya, a former student, has filed a complaint with Shantiniketan police station, rallying behind Amartya Sen, calling the Vice-Chancellor, working secretary and public relations officer as 'traitors'. Even West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has warned that if Amartya Sen's house is demolished, she will sit on dharna.

Now, Nobel laureate economist Amartya Sen approached the court regarding land issues complaining that Visva-Bharati authorities are trying to evict him purposefully. In this regard, he filed a petition in the Suri District Court on Thursday. Advocates Soumen Mukherjee and Gochchand Chakraborty filed the case on behalf of Amartya Sen.