Have taken many measures to promote excellence in teaching, claims JNU admin

New Delhi: Denying allegations levelled by the Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers' Association (JNUTA), the varsity administration stated that it has taken a slew of measures to promote a conducive atmosphere for excellence in teaching and research in compliance with University Grants Commission (UGC) rules.

In a statement on Tuesday, the JNU administration said each month, the Vice-Chancellor's office schedules a date and time when any regular student and/or faculty member can meet him without prior appointment and submit suggestions and concerns.

"Several students and faculty members do meet the V-C on these occasions. The allegation of JNUTA that it is unable to meet officers of the administration are utterly false," an administration official said.

On a memorandum submitted by JNUTA, he said the administration had serious deliberations and also responded to some. The official also suggested that in case the concerns of JNUTA have still not been allayed, they may send two representatives/office bearers to meet the concerned varsity officials on a mutually convenient date and time to discuss the issues.

"Instead of coming for discussions with the administration on the issues of the JNU teaching community, JNUTA office bearers have resorted to pressure tactics by sitting on dharnas, hunger strikes at legally prohibited areas of the campus and disrupting functioning of the University. This exposes how devious their intentions are in resolving the issues," said the official.

Accusing the JNU administration of mismanagement and protesting the decision to mandatory attendance of faculty members, JNUTA had on Monday observed a day-long hunger strike.