JNU panel starts probe into ruckus

The Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers’ Association (JNUTA) has criticized the administration for launching an inquiry into the role of faculty members in alleged disruption of an Academic Council (AC) meeting held in December last year.

The executive council (EC) had constituted a committee to look into the incident of alleged forceful entry of students in the AC meeting and a subsequent demonstration held at the administrative building.

In a communication on June 19, the committee said it started with its inquiry proceedings. The committee said anybody who is a member/special invitee of the AC and was present on the day of the incident will be given an opportunity to present her/his deposition in writing.

“…all concerned are requested to give their written deposition, if they wish so, in a confidential cover by the 3rd July, 2017, 5pm…,” the communication said.

The AC meeting held on December 26, 2016 decided to adopt a UGC notification which makes entrance test as only qualifying for admission to research courses. It makes viva-voce (interview) the sole criteria for merit list.

Ever since then students and teachers have been protesting against the move and have moved the court also.

Following the AC meeting, eight students were suspended for allegedly disrupting the meeting. The administration claimed that some protesting students entered the meeting hall after “a handful of faculty members” called them inside.

The students said they were protesting outside the AC meeting venue and entered the hall only after the meeting was over.