JNUSU prez writes to HRD Min; questions dearth of faculty

Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) president Mohit Kumar Pandey wrote to the Union Minister of Human Resource Development Prakash Javadekar expressing concern for the University's students and stating that instead of the massive seat cuts the number of faculty members in the varsity should have been increased.

"We, the students of JNU, are facing unnecessary hardships due to the UGC Notification 2016. We have heard your reply several times, but we want to know who is responsible for the vacant posts of teachers in the University," read the letter.

The JNUSU president also wrote that to maintain the ratio of students enrolled to professors in the University, the authorities should have filled up the vacant posts rather than reducing the number of students through seat cuts.

Moreover, bringing to attention the hardships faced by JNU students after the enforcement of the Gazette Notification by University Grants Commission (UGC), dated May 5, 2016, Pandey further stated that the students are certainly not responsible for the vacant posts of teachers.

The Union members also alleged that the students are deprived of funds and resources unlike any other foreign University. "The University Grants Commission's portal clearly states the number of vacant post of the teachers. The HRD Ministry, JNU Vice-Chancellor, M Jagadesh Kumar and the UGC were well aware about the vacant posts but did not work for it," the message further read.

Pandey also alleged that the seat cuts have disturbed the prospective students as their opportunities of getting to study JNU will be reduced.

Meanwhile, elections for JNU's Gender Sensitisation Committee Against Sexual Harassment (GSCASH) - which deals with complaints of sexual harassment - which have been delayed by a year are likely to be postponed to the next academic session following the ongoing turbulence on campus.