JNU prof suspended over financial irregularities

The suspension of Ashish Agnihotri, Associate Professor in Jawaharlal Nehru University has increased the heat in the campus as the teachers’ body JNUTA on Tuesday passed a resolution demanding the Vice-Chancellor to withdraw the suspension. According to sources, JNU may witness another round of protests due to deteriorating confidence between the faculty members and V-C M Jagadesh Kumar. 

“The suspension was uncalled for. All the teachers are feeling very bad due to the step of the Vice-Chancellor. It was not a sudden case but inquiry was going on since 2013. We will meet the Vice-Chancellor to press for withdrawal of suspension,” said Prof Ajay Patnaik, president of JNUTA. 

“Ashish Agnihotri was fully cooperating with the inquiry panel. In his reply to the show cause notice, he had admitted the mistake and had assured to pay back the amount. Furthermore, suspension in not the punishment and final authority to award punishment is with the Executive Council,” he added. 

 The suspension letter issued by Sukhdev Singh, Section Officer of the University on July 25 reads that Ashish Agnihotri, Associate Professor in Centre for Centre for French & Francophone Studies, School of Language, Literature and Culture Studies ‘has been placed under suspension with immediate effect’.  “It’s a matter of around Rs 25,000 which he is ready to pay back. JNU should have awarded penalty but suspension was not required,” added Patnaik. Agnihotri is presently vice-president of JNUTA. 

According to sources Agnihotri wrongly showed his retired father’s income less than Rs 3,500 to get reimbursement for his medical and air travel from JNU. “It is very shameful that teachers are found to indulge in such shameful act. We would request university administration to investigate further cases because we believe that there are other teachers who are involved in similar acts,” Saurabh Sharma, joint secretary of JNUSU.