Noting that action against unauthorised absence be taken as per rules governing the service of the teaching staff, the Delhi High Court on Friday stayed decisions of JNU’s academic and executive councils to make attendance mandatory for the faculty.
In an interim order, Justice Suresh Kait granted relief to JNU Professor Ayesha Kidwai who had challenged the decisions of the Academic Council (AC) and Executive Council (EC) of the university.
Next hearing
The court has listed the case for further hearing on May 3.
Earlier this week, it stayed a circular issued by the JNU administration last year mandating that faculty members mark their own attendance or submit attendance records of their students failing which any of their proposal or leave request will not be considered.
On Friday, the court said the varsity can take action against the teaching staff who go on unauthorised leave, according to the rules prevalent before the AC decision of July 13, 2018 making marking of attendance mandatory.
Professor Kidwai’s lawyers argued that the two councils did not follow proper procedure when taking their decision which also included bringing in a biometric system of marking attendance. The counsel said that asking for biometrics amounted to breach of privacy of an individual.
Central government standing counsel Monika Arora, appearing for JNU, told the court that if marking of attendance was not mandatory then it would be difficult to ensure presence of the teaching faculty as many of them go on vacation for months together.
JNU told the court that students have complained against such long-term absence of teaching staff.
Professor Kidwai in her plea, apart from seeking quashing of the decisions of the two councils, has also sought setting aside of various circular issued by JNU making marking of attendance mandatory for sanction of leave or disbursal of salary.
