New Delhi, (IANS): All four JNUSU office-bearers have been barred from meetings of all committees and statutory bodies of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) after a proctorial inquiry was opened against them on charges of “misconduct and indiscipline”.
According to Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union (JNUSU) President Mohit Pandey, a letter informing him about his suspension was sent on Wednesday evening.
Similar letters were sent to other office bearers as well accusing them of disrupting the 143rd Academic Council (AC) meeting on June 16 and proscribing them from attending any future meetings till the inquiry gets over.
“The Proctor’s office has received a report from the Registrar regarding misconduct and indiscipline… The report and eyewitnesses have accused Pandey of using unparliamentary language, unruly behaviour, unauthorised video recording of Council proceedings,” it read.
“A Proctorial inquiry committee has been constituted by the Chief Proctor to investigate into this serious issue,” it said.
The members who were served with the notice, apart from Pandey, are General Secretary Satarupa Chakraborty and Joint Secretary Tabrez Hasan, Vice President Amal P.P. Chakraborty told IANS that all four had been served the same letter.
Although the JNUSU is made up of the four office-bearers and around 30 councillors, only the former are entitled to attend statutory body meetings.
The JNUSU condemned the varsity administration, calling the inquiry “sheer targetting of student representatives” and an attempt to “silence critical voices”. The JNUSU has called for a protest on Thursday on the campus.
“True to its dark history, the JNU administration under the leadership of M. Jagadesh Kumar yet again attempted to silence the critical voices where tough and uncomfortable questions were raised by the students’ representatives in the 143rd Academic Council meeting,” said a statement from the students body.
Objections were raised at the June 16 Council meeting by JNUSU members and faculty members over confirming the minutes of the previous meeting.
Protests were held by students and faculty members over a clause that limited the number of M.Phil and Ph.D students a faculty member could guide as per the University Grants Commission recommendations.
Several faculty members and the JNUSU disapproved the move, saying it would drastically reduce the number of seats in JNU for research scholars.