JNUTA and JNUSU Demand Removal of JNU Vice-Chancellor Over Recruitment Allegations
The Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers Association (JNUTA) and the JNU Students’ Union (JNUSU) have demanded the removal of Vice-Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit, alleging widespread irregularities in the recruitment of teaching staff.
Speaking at a press conference at the Press Club of India in New Delhi on Thursday, the student and teacher associations urged President Droupadi Murmu, who serves as the visitor and chancellor of the university, to order an independent and time-bound inquiry.
The demands focus on concerns regarding the vice-chancellor’s appointment, faculty recruitment, Career Advancement Scheme (CAS) promotions, the functioning of the Internal Quality Assurance Cell, and alleged alterations in screening outcomes.
The two bodies released an eight-point demand charter addressed to the chancellor, the Ministry of Education, the University Grants Commission, Members of Parliament, and the public, explicitly calling for the vice-chancellor's removal from office.
Responding to the allegations, the JNU administration maintained that recruitment has been conducted in a fair and procedural manner based on merit since the vice-chancellor took charge in February 2022.
According to the administration, the university has conducted over 400 interviews and filled more than 200 vacancies during this period, marking the largest hiring drive in JNU's history. The administration stated that nearly 70 per cent of those hired belong to reserved and marginalised categories, adding that no candidate complaints were received regarding the interview process.
The administration further noted that selection committees composed of domain experts award marks and the Academic Council approves the finalised list of candidates.
The press conference was also attended by Members of Parliament, including Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh and Communist Party of India (Marxist) MP John Brittas. Both lawmakers pledged to raise the concerns in the upcoming session of Parliament, noting that the university was established by an Act of Parliament and remains accountable to it.
