JNU issues show cause notices to 48 faculty members

NEW DELHI, AUGUST 24: The Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has issued show cause notices to as many as 48 faculty members for allegedly participating in a protest against the varsity administration on July 31. According to a senior professor of the University, the decision was taken during the Executive Council meeting of the university on July 23.

The teachers allegedly participated in a one day strike called by the JNU Teachers Association against the policies implemented by the Vice Chancellor.

Earlier, on August 1, JNU Registrar ahad sked the teachers to clarify their position on being seen participating in the strike on July 31 called by the JNUTA. In reply, the JNUTA wrote to the VC stating that the right to express discontent through protest is a constitutional right which a University cannot restrict through the exercise of arbitrary administrative power. The teachers are deeply disturbed by the manner in which a democratic act of protest is being treated as an act of indiscipline and illegality.

As per the notice, the peaceful strike was in contravention of the statutes, rules and regulations of the JNU Act. The reason given for the notice is that the 100-metre radius around academic buildings and the administrative block is the no-protest zone, which was violated.