JNU’s SC/ ST faculty members allege discrimination against teachers and non-teaching employees

SC/ST faculty said that the “principle of inclusiveness is not followed in the appointment of wardens in the hostels”.

Faculty members belonging to the SC/ST community at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) have written to the Vice-Chancellor alleging discrimination against teachers and non-teaching employees from the reserved categories. The letter signed by 46 faculty members was submitted to the V-C on September 15, but has not elicited a response from the administration.

“It is submitted that we the SC/ST faculty of JNU are in deep anguish over the blatant discrimination meted out to the faculty and non-teaching staff of the SC/ST members of this University. Several cases of blatant discrimination have been dispensed by your esteemed office, as well as by the administration under your leadership,” the teachers said in their letter.

YS Alone, one of the signatories to the letter said the faculty were considering going to higher authorities with the complaints and that the next move was being discussed.

They cited the case of Saitya Brata Das, Centre of English Studies, who was denied professorship allegedly despite having an excellent academic record. “The reason given for the denial of promotion was the decision of ‘inconclusive’ declared by the Selection Committee on the ground that no PhD research scholar had been awarded the degree under the said teacher’s supervision. The reason thus provided is against the prescribed UGC rules for CAS promotion… We wish to remind you that Dr Saitya Brata Das, in fact, had a student who had submitted his PhD thesis whose viva-voce examination was to be held in the month of June 2017, just a month after the said interview was held. This decision made by you shows a complete and total partisan attitude towards an SC/ST member of the faculty. You are therefore requested to reverse the decision,” the letter read.

They said that in the Special Centre for Nanosciences, an SC faculty member was not made the Chairperson despite being the senior most. “We are aware of the fact that the selection of Chairpersons has been the prerogative of Executive Council. However, as Chairperson of the EC and by virtue of being the Vice-Chancellor, you have misused the authorisation of the EC,” the faculty members wrote.

They said the confirmation of a faculty member belonging to the SC category has been denied “due to a pending ‘court case’ against the University regarding his appointment” and that “no SC/ST faculty has been appointed as Rector in the JNU administration despite the fact that there are three positions of Rector in the existing JNU administration”.

They also said that the “principle of inclusiveness is not followed in the appointment of wardens in the hostels”.

“As a matter of constitutional responsibility and being upholder of the constitutional position of Jawaharlal Nehru University, we expect you to uphold and follow the constitutional principles of Articles 14, 15 and 16 in its letter and spirit and make this institution as a model institution where the principles of Indian Constitution are followed so that the University will have equitable social growth, and the atmosphere of fear and discrimination be warded off in order to make everyone productive and contribute towards the gross national happiness of the country,” read the letter.

Multiple calls and messages to the VC went unanswered. JNU Registrar also did not respond to calls by the Indian Express.