'JNU's good work reason for best varsity award'

Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar said on Tuesday that Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) got the best university award for its good work and not for the controversy last year during which the Vice Chancellor was taken hostage.

"Recently JNU was given the best university award. This was not given for making the Vice Chancellor hostage but for the good works done by the university. These good works don't come in the spotlight," Javadekar said in Lok Sabha while concluding the debate on the National Institutes of Technology, Science Education and Research (Second Amendment) Bill, 2016.

Javadekar's remarks come after Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge objected to the Minister's reference of vacancies in JNU. Pointing out at the vacancies of professors, Javadekar said: "There are over 100 vacancies for SCs/STs in JNU while around 25 posts of disabled professors are vacant since long."

Kharge objected to it saying that not only in JNU but several posts are lying vacant in Central Universities and the minister should respond to such vacancies.

Responding to members' queries, Javadekar said, "There are vacancies in central, state and also in private universities. We are trying to constitute a dynamic platform where all vacancies will be shown on our site," he said.

He said that for filling up the vacancies the government needs to create an atmosphere where students prefer to be teachers and professors. ''We need to create interest among students so that they choose this profession," he said.

He also expressed concern over the cases of campus suicides. "Even a single case of suicide in campuses is unfortunate," the minister said.