Ram Thakur College principal Dr. Papri Das Sengupta refused political pressure to admit 400 students outside the merit list, insisting on a transparent, online admission process. The controversy has sparked debates on political interference in education, as the institution upholds integrity amid growing demands for college seats in Agartala.
A fresh controversy has erupted at Ram Thakur College (RTC), Agartala, after the institution’s principal, Dr. Papri Das Sengupta, firmly refused to accommodate requests for “undue favours” in the ongoing admission process. The issue came to light when a group of local political functionaries allegedly attempted to influence admissions, bringing a list of hundreds of students to be enrolled, bypassing the official merit-based system.
According to the principal, tensions escalated when a group of outsiders forcefully entered the college premises, creating chaos and damaging property. “They resorted to undesirable activities, including kicking at the doors and creating a ruckus,” Dr. Sengupta stated. “Later, we invited some representatives from the protestors for a formal consultation.”
During this meeting, three self-proclaimed leaders from three different assembly constituencies reportedly presented a list of 400 students they wanted admitted to the college. Dr. Sengupta explained that she and her team politely clarified that the admission process had been fully digitized and centralized to ensure transparency, leaving no scope for manual interference.
“The entire admission process is online. There is no possibility for the college to make exceptions. All admissions are determined on merit, based on Higher Secondary examination scores,” she said.
However, the political functionaries were dissatisfied with this explanation. Soon after, several videos surfaced on social media allegedly targeting the principal and other senior officials, intensifying public attention on the matter.
Dr. Sengupta said the list of students provided by the political representatives was forwarded to the Higher Education Department, the only authority capable of taking any further decision. “We cannot compromise merit under any circumstances. Students who have scored well deserve admission over those with lower marks, regardless of political pressure,” she asserted.
The principal also revealed that the college had recently taken strict disciplinary measures to maintain integrity in admissions. A professor was suspended for engaging in unethical practices related to the admission process, while some students who had gained entry using forged signatures of the principal were also suspended pending inquiry.
This year, Ram Thakur College has increased its intake capacity to 1,870 seats in response to growing demand for higher education in Agartala. “We are committed to ensuring fair opportunities for all eligible candidates through a transparent, merit-based process,” Dr. Sengupta stressed.
The incident has sparked debates over political interference in educational institutions and the importance of safeguarding merit-based systems. While student unions and some political groups have historically played active roles in campus issues, educationists argue that any pressure to bypass established rules threatens academic standards and institutional credibility.
The principal’s uncompromising stance has drawn both praise and criticism. Supporters laud her for defending the integrity of the admissions process, while critics question whether a more flexible approach could have helped accommodate disadvantaged students. However, the administration maintains that transparency and fairness are paramount to maintaining public trust.
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With the Higher Education Department now aware of the situation, it remains to be seen how the matter will be resolved. For now, Ram Thakur College stands by its decision to follow the established online admission procedure without bending to political influence.
