Historic Referendum In JNU, Overwhelming Majority Of Faculty Votes For VC’s Ouster

In a historic referendum, the faculty members of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) sought the ouster of the Vice-Chancellor M.Jagdeesh Kumar with an overwhelming 93 per cent majority. Braving showers throughout the day, the teachers also said a firm 'No' to the question of the 515 croreloanfrom the Higher Education Finance Authority (HEFA) which they allege will turn the university into a "teaching shop". 

The referendum saw the participation of 300 out of 586 listed teachers. Prof. M.H. Qureshi (noted geographer), Prof. P.K. Yadava (eminent scientist), Prof. Arun Kumar (noted economist) and Prof. Chaman Lal (acclaimed writer) were also invited to observe the referendum. 

Terming the participation "surprising", the Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers’Association (JNUTA) said the teachers defied "the general atmosphere of fear that has been created by the current administration." The association also issued a statement which said that the administration, with the active participation of the Vice-Chancellor, has been individually targetting the faculty members who dare to express dissent in any manner. The statement thus cited the example where individual letters were sent against those teachers who were “…seen to be …” protesting last week. 

It emphasised that the number of teachers who turned up for voting was substantial despite those who are fearful of personal targeting (whose confirmations and promotions etc. are on the line) and who are currently holding administrative posts; and also the fact that a number of the faculty members are currently on long leave.

The results of the referendum showed that 279 out of 300 teachers sought the sacking of Kumar,while eight teachers voted in the negative. Another eight votes were declared invalid whereas five teachers chose to abstain from voting. 

Also Read:JNUTA To Hold Referendum On The Rejection Of HEFA Loans And Removal of JNU VC On August 7 

On the question of taking a loan from HEFA, as many as 288 teachers opposed the move. Four teachers voted for the loan whereas the remaining votes were declared invalid.

The historic referendum came days after the convention on public higher education was organised in the campus. The tussle between the teachers and Vice-Chancellor heated up after the meetings of Academic Council and Executive Council, where the Vice-Chancellor called multiple special invitees to bring the majority in his favour and passed resolutions without any discussion. 

Similarly, the teachers alleged that the dissenting voices have been wiped out of the minutes of the meetings by the V-C. He even barred the participation of the deans of many schools including School of Arts and Aesthetics Dean Kavita Singh, and the deans of the Centre for Social Medicine and Community Health and the Centre of Study of Social Systems in the meeting. Interestingly, the deans are also the constitutional members of the councils.

The teachers also alleged that the loan of Rs 515 crore from HEFA, to open engineering and management centres, was an attempt to privatise the university. They said the loan is unsustainable and the final burden will have to beborne by the students intheform of increased tuition fee. 

The university has also been at the centre of students’ protests which accuse the Jagadeesh Kumar-led administration of taking measures which not only aimed at destroying the university but also put the marginalised sections of the society at bay.While on one hand the university saw the discontinuation of deprivation points, the number of seats in M. Phil and PhD courses have also been reduced significantly. It has also emerged as the epicentre of resistance against the Modi government’s policies seeking to commercialise and saffronise higher education centres.

The deprivation points assessed the level of backwardness of the students and they were compensated with additional marks so that they have a level playing field at the university.  Prashant Kumar, Secretary, Students Federation of India-Delhi Unit said that it was withinthe absolute authority of the university if they wantedto introduce deprivation points with other UGC guidelines. "The deprivation points in JNU were discontinued after the V-C and his supporters introduced proposals in academic and executive councils and got them passed,"he said. 

The students also allege that the V-C's deliberate silence on the alleged sexual harassment charges on Professor Atul Johri promoted other predators on the campus. Recently, the Internal Complaints Committee of the university reprimanded two girl students who came out in public to protest against sexual harassment by other professors.