JNU administration warns against GSCASH elections

A group of students have decided to hold election on Wednesday for the Gender Sensitisation Committee Against Sexual Harassment (GSCASH) despite the university order issued earlier telling them not to do so.

The decision to replace GSCASH with Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) was taken during the 269th Executive Council meeting held on September 18.

The administration will hold election for student representatives, to be part of ICC, on September 29.

"This is to sensitise the entire JNU community that some students with the support of JNUSU are moving ahead with holding elections to non-existing GSCASH," a circular from the varsity Registrar read.

"There will be no parallel institution on sexual harassment cases in the same campus. The JNU administration hereby alerts the JNU community that efforts are being made to hold illegal elections to a non-existing body," it added.

A considerable section of students is opposed to the move of replacing GSCASH with ICC, mandated by the University Grants Commission, mainly because of the difference in both committees' constitution alleging a likelihood of its acting prejudicially.

Unlike GSCASH -- all members of which are elected -- the ICC would consist of nominated members along with the elected members.

Both the committees include teachers and students as members.