A government circular asking the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) to amend its statute to facilitate reappointment of a Vice Chancellor for a second term has drawn flak from the teachers' association, which said the move is "deleterious" to the functioning of the varsity.
JNU Teachers' Association (JNUTA) expressed "concern" at the recent circular issued by the HRD Ministry for an amendment of JNU statute. The amendment is aimed at reappointment of Prof B B Bhattacharya whose term as the Vice Chancellor ends on June 30.
The issue is expected to be taken up tomorrow by the JNU Executive Council, the highest body for taking decisions on all matters of the university.
"The JNU faculty unequivocally rejects this move as it is deleterious to the autonomous, academic and administrative functioning of JNU and its democratic ethos. JNUTA demands immediate withdrawal of this item from JNU Executive Council meeting being held on April 6," JNUTA president Prof B C Tripathy said in a statement.
If the executive council approves the amendment, it will be sent for the approval of President Pratibha Patil who is the Visitor of the university.
JNUTA has appealed to faculty members to gather at the administrative block tomorrow to impress upon the Vice-Chancellor and executive council members for the withdrawal of the item from the agenda.
Meanwhile, JNU students have alleged that the varsity administration was refusing to implement SC/ST reservations in faculty posts. It violates Constitutionally mandated provisions for social justice, they claimed.
The JNU administration has stalled implementation of SC/ST reservations, citing legal ambiguity. The authorities will seek legal opinion from the Solicitor General before taking a final decision on the matter.
"This is nothing but blatant delaying tactics intended to scuttle and subvert all provisions of social justice," the students said in a statement.
Out of 486 faculty members in JNU, only 23 were appointed through reservations under the SC/ST quota.
In December 2005, the HRD Ministry issued directives mandating SC/ST reservations in faculty posts. Subsequently, in 2006, the UGC issued directives to all universities and colleges to implement SC/ST reservations in all teaching and non-teaching posts.
Similarly, the university has not implemented the OBC reservation in admission as per the plan, the students alleged.
The students today staged a protest before the UGC office here in this regard.