JNUTA Objects to Professor Emeritus Title Conferred on Retired Professor PR Kumaraswamy
The Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers’ Association has objected to the conferment of the honorary title of Professor Emeritus on retired professor PR Kumaraswamy at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi. The teachers’ body alleged that the decision was taken without adhering to the prescribed procedure.
According to JNUTA, the decision went ahead despite existing complaints seeking an inquiry into alleged irregularities concerning faculty recruitment and promotion at the institution.
Kumaraswamy retired from JNU on September 30. During his academic career at the university, he served as a professor at the Centre for West Asian Studies within the School of International Studies.
Alongside his teaching and research responsibilities, Kumaraswamy held prominent administrative portfolios. He served as the officer on special duty to the vice-chancellor and later functioned as the director of JNU’s Internal Quality Assurance Cell.
The position of Professor Emeritus is an honorary title awarded to retired professors in recognition of distinguished academic contributions and significant service rendered to the university. JNUTA noted that the honour has historically been rare, having previously been conferred on only 15 individuals.
The association described those 15 prior recipients as eminent academics and institution-builders with unblemished institutional integrity, questioning the decision to confer the distinction on Kumaraswamy.
JNUTA stated that the honour was granted despite a formal complaint submitted by its executive committee. That complaint, which sought an investigation into the allegations against Kumaraswamy, had been submitted to both the Central Vigilance Commission and the JNU Executive Council.
