NEW DELHI: Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers Association (JNUTA) has decided to hold a public inquiry on the charges levelled by it against Vice Chancellor Mamidala Jagdesh Kumar who is accused of violating statutory provisions of the University to adopt a direct line of confrontation against the faculty and students.

A mass delegation of teachers have submitted the chargesheet to the VC on October 17, giving him till October 20 to respond to the detailed and specific charges. As he has not replied, JNUTA has decided to proceed with its public inquiry against Kumar that will start on Monday and continue till the evening of October 27.

JNUTA has stated that the “ public inquiry against the Vice Chancellor of JNU is a mode of protest modeled on an official inquiry but deriving its legitimacy not from powers vested in any statutory authority but by being an expression of the collective sentiment of teachers of JNU.”

“Through this public inquiry, the JNUTA seeks to bring out in the public domain a comprehensive picture of the severe damage being done to a public institution by its current administration under the leadership of the Vice-Chancellor. In order that concerned members of the public may also be able to arrive at an informed judgment, the inquiry process will try to present the issues comprehensively including by giving space to the JNU Administration’s viewpoint.”, JNUTA added.

Teachrs will depose before the panel representing eminent persons from different walks of life, on specific points raised in the chargesheet. Oral and written submissions will be taken, with the panelists giving a preliminary observation at the end of every day. A written note will follow stating the ‘verdict’ on the charges. A final comprehensive report will be submitted on October 27.

The timetable and the charges that will be examined according to JNUTA president Ayesha Kidwai and Secretary Pradeep Shine are as follows:

Mon, 23 October

Overview of Charges; Article 1: Repeated Violation of Statutory Provisions and Obligations

Tue, 24 October

Article 6: Undermining JNU’s Anti-Sexual Harassment Policy; Article 7: Displacing a Callous Attitude towards Najeeb Ahmed and Failing to Protect Students’ Interests

Wed, 25 October

Article 2: Undermining the Integrity of the Faculty Selection Process; Article 3: Damaging the Interests of Students aspiring for research, wasting public money and violating CEI Act and Reservation Policy

Thu, 26 October

Article 4: Harassing Teachers and Denying them their Legitimate Dues; Article 5: Assaulting Democracy and Promoting Authoritarianism

Fri, 27 October

Final Report

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