HRD Ministry in Catch-22 position over implementation of panel's suggestions

New Delhi: It seems the Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry is in Catch-22 position on issue of JNU students' demand of complete rollback of hostel manual and fee hike as the ministry is "not ready to accept" the recommendations of government's high-powered committee citing the reason that the suggestions of the panel are impractical for implementation.

The four-page report, which was submitted to the HRD Ministry on November 26, has recommended concessions in utility and service charges to all the students of the university.

According to the sources, the minister is "not happy" with the panel's report as it's in the "favour" of JNU students. "The high-powered committee report has neither been "rejected" nor "accepted" by the ministry. The standoff over implementation of the panel's report would further delay the process to end JNU students protest," the sources said, adding that the ministry also has also raised doubts over the motives of a member of the committee.

As per the sources, the ministry is of the view that the recommendations made by the three-member high powered committee are not fully practical and there is no question of complete roll back of hostel fees. The ministry has also raised objections over the role of a member of the panel who had appeared in the interview for JNU vice chancellor post.

It's worth mentioning that the panel, which was set up by the HRD Ministry on November 16 to recommend ways to restore normal functioning in JNU, had submitted its report to the government on November 28. The members of the panel were former UGC chairman VS Chauhan, AICTE chairman Anil Sahasrabudhe and UGC secretary Rajnish Jain.