Students may seek VC’s ouster over poor handling of situation

The students’ body of the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) may soon demand the ouster of university vice-chancellor (VC) professor Jagdish Kumar and registrar Bupinder Zutshi.

The ‘Remove vice-chancellor and registrar,’ campaign may start soon as most students feel that the two top authorities did not take proper steps to control the situation on campus and protect students’ union president Kanhaiya Kumar, who has been arrested on charges of sedition. They allege that the duo kept mum even when students were thrashed at the Patiala House Courts.

“The JNU vice-chancellor has been failed to address the situation on campus,” said Sandeep Saurabh, national general secretary All India Students’ Association (AISA).  

He added that a few days ago, vice-chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar had said that the university administration “stands with the JNU students and teachers”. “However, a note undersigned by the registrar has exposed the VC’s lie on the February 9 incident,” he said.

The note released by the registrar condemns students, found participating in the event held in support of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru, and states that the VC’s had backed police action against them.

“When the note written by the registrar became public, the VC issued a statement urging students to maintain calm on campus. He also appealed to students and teachers to help the administration carry out academic work unhindered, which we think is a cover-up plank by the VC,” Saurabh said.

 The JNU Students’ Union and  teachers’ association have already shown their disagreement on the appointment of a three-member panel, entrusted to probe the February 9 incident. Teachers have demanded that more members should be included in the committee.

Members of the students’ council, who have been asked to appear before the committee, have refused to participate in enquiry, citing “unjust” academic suspension of eight students.

The JNU administration had instituted a “disciplinary” enquiry as to how the event allegedly condemning Guru’s execution was organised on campus, despite the withdrawal of permission.