In a referendum called by the Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers’ Association (JNUTA) on Tuesday, a large number of teachers voted in favour of having university Vice-Chancellor M. Jagadesh Kumar removed.
The JNUTA said 300 (or about 51%) of 586 teachers at the university took part in the referendum.
To a question — “Should the JNU V-C go?”, 279 teachers voted in favour of the motion, while eight voted against it. The remaining 13 teachers either abstained or their votes were found invalid.
The association said in a statement that the number of teachers who turned up for the referendum were “substantial” given that numerous faculty members were on leave, some fearful of being targeted ahead of confirmation and promotion, and those currently holding administrative posts. A vote was also taken on the proposed Higher Education Financing Agency (HEFA) loan by the university.
HEFA loan
To a question — “Should JNU be burdened with the HEFA loan?”, 288 teachers voted against the motion and four in its favour. Eight teachers either abstained or their votes were found invalid. Retired JNU professors were invited as external observers during the exercise.
The question referred to the proposal seeking a loan of ₹515 crore from HEFA for what the JNUTA called were the V-C’s “pet projects”.
The association believed that the loan will lead to “indebtedness for the university community”. A JNUTA spokesperson said the association will meet soon to decide the way forward.
The JNUTA has raised several allegations against Prof. Kumar. The association has been protesting against the same from the day it took out a silent protest on July 31. It claimed that there has been a breakdown in the deliberative processes of the university.
The Academic Council and the Executive Council, where university issues are meant to be discussed, are said to be “stage-managed” by the V-C.
The JNUTA stated that dissenting voices are “put down” at these meetings.
