Protect university, JNU team requests MPS 27 teachers get notice over hunger strike
NEW DELHI: Representatives of teachers’ association and students’ union at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) met several members of parliament (MPS) across political lines on Friday seeking intervention to “protect” the university.
JNU Teachers’ Association (JNUTA) president Atul Sood said the delegation provided the MPS — including Sanjay Singh of AAP, Manoj Kumar Jha of RJD, Jitendra Chaudhary of CPI(M) and L Hanumanthaiah of the Congress — with documents explaining the “vice-chancellor’s role in destroying the teaching and learning in JNU”.
“We pointed out (to the MPS) the VC’S violations of the JNU act, statutes and ordinances by constant misuse of his power of authority. Our delegation felt encouraged by the promise made by the MPS to raise the matter on the floor of Parliament and also outside,” he said.
The JNU Students’ Union (JNUSU) said that the MPS promised to push for a special session in the Rajya Sabha to discuss issues related to higher education. “The MPS have assured that a letter will be submitted for having a session on the problems in higher education particularly flagging the attacks on social and gender justice. Violation of constitutionally mandated reservations will be discussed in detail. They also assured to raise the issue with the MHRD and with the other committees of parliament,” said JNUSU president N Sai Balaji.
Manoj Kumar Jha, RS member from RJD, confirmed the meeting and said, “The students and teachers of JNU are having lost of issues such as hostile atti- tude of the administration and drastic cut of academic funds. They raised them with us and we have assured them to further raised them in the session. We will also request the ministry of HRD to intervene and save a university like JNU from destruction.”
Despite several attempts, vice-chancellor Jagadesh Kumar did not respond to requests for a comment.
Meanwhile, the JNUSU president alleged that the university has blocked his Mphil evaluation citing ongoing disciplinary “inquiries” against him. “There are two inquires against me one is for raising “anti-rss” and “anti-abvp” slogans and another for opposing administration’s online entrance scam. By blocking my Mphil evaluation the administration is trying to silent the voices of student leaders,” he said. NEW DELHI: The Jawaharlal Nehru University issued show cause notices to 27 faculty members for participating in a hunger strike at the university’s administration block last month. The strike was observed against the compulsory attendance norm for teachers.
JNU teachers association (JNUTA) president Atul Sood was among those who received the notice on December 19. The teachers have been given one week’s time to come up with explanation. “Failing which it will be presumed that they have nothing to say in their defence and disciplinary action under the admissible rules will be initiated against them,” the notice stated.
JNU said that the teachers’ body was given an opportunity to have a dialogue.
The JNU administration has banned protest and gatherings within 100m range of its administration building. “Appropriate action will be taken as per university rules and regulations,” a notice signed by registrar Pramod Kumar said.
“The administration claims that the teachers have violated regulation M7, but it doesn’t apply to the teachers. We are being targeted to raise our voice against the administration’s decision to make attendance mandatory for teachers,” Kumar said.