The Delhi High Court on Monday 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.
Justice Suresh Kait stayed the operation of the November 13, 2018, circular of the JNU administration while seeking its response on a plea by a teacher challenging the circular.
The High Court will hear the case on May 3.
Professor Archana Prasad from the Centre for Informal Sector and Labour Studies challenged the circular. She had to attend a conference in South Africa from December 6-16, 2018, and she sent a leave application on October 9 last year but the university administration declined it relying on the November 13 circular.
She requested for leave again on December 13, 2018, on receiving an invitation from the Sam Moyo African Institute for Agrarian Studies for a programme from January 21 to 25. But her leave application was rejected again.
‘Coercive measure’
Senior advocate Rebecca John, appearing for Prof. Prasad, sought to quash the circular terming it as a coercive measure. “It does so by stating that no request, paper or proposal of a faculty member will be entertained or considered unless faculty members confirm that they have been marking their attendance,” she argued.
The petition filed through advocates Maanav Kumar and Nupur, said that the circular was inconsistent with the university’s internal leave ordinances.
Prof. Prasad said that “never in the history of the university has there been a rule requiring faculty members to mark attendance”.
She claimed that the administration made the circular in spite of the fact that the performance of the university by all measures has been outstanding especially in the absence of such rule.
“Even though the circulars and decisions on faculty attendance would have far-reaching implications on faculty members, the faculty members were deliberately prevented from presenting their concerns,” she said.
Central government standing counsel Monika Arora, appearing for the JNU, said as per the rules of University Grants Commission and JNU, it is mandatory for teachers to mark their attendance. She said it is in the interest of teachers and students to mark their attendances.
