Jawaharlal Nehru University’s Academic Council (AC) meet erupted into a ruckus following which it was adjourned amid series of heated arguments among teachers, students and administration. The AC is the statutory decision making body of the university and this was the first meeting ever since Vice Chancellor Jagadesh Kumar took charge in January. While the university administration alleged that some students “literally pulled his (V-C’s) shirt and tried to pin him down” after he tried leaving the venue, the students claimed that the V-C left following uproar over report of the High level Enquiry Committee (HlEC) which investigated the controversial February 9 event.
Meanwhile, a group of 52 teachers who are also members of the AC, passed a resolution demanding that “all unreasonable punishments in connection with the February 9 event be revoked”.
“The meeting was not allowed to proceed by a group of teachers and their student supporters who from the very beginning pressed their demand to discuss an issue that was not part of the agenda. The behaviour of these teachers was unruly as they collectively shouted at the chair and sought to force upon him to begin the meeting with their item as first agenda,” stated the JNU PRO, Poonam Kudaisya.
“As the situation turned into pandemonium, the V-C agreed to discuss their agenda. However, a group of teachers sought to force upon the chairperson to take a decision then and there by announcing revocation of the proctorial orders. As a result, there was no alternative left for him but to adjourn the meeting,” it added. While JNUSU vice-president Shehla Rashid Shora alleged that she and Rama Naga were initially not allowed entry to the meeting despite the invitation, the university officials denied it.
“I have seen several negotiations with the administration. I have seen previous JNUSU president talking very aggressively to the previous V-C on the issue of hostels. But the previous V-C handled it calmly by having a conversation with students,” Shehla said in a JNUSU statement.