JNU forms panel to hunt for new V-C

The search for the next head of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) is set to begin soon as the varsity has finally constituted a committee for this purpose. The search committee comprises three members. Two of them are the JNU-nominees.

The search for the next head of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) is set to begin soon as the varsity has finally constituted a committee for this purpose. The search committee comprises three members. Two of them are the JNU-nominees.

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JNU has shortlisted Professor P. Balaram, director, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore and Nitin Desai, distinguished visiting fellow at The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) as its nominees.

Balaram, who was awarded the Padma Shri in 2002, is a professor of Molecular Biophysics and is the author of over 400 research papers.

Desai, on the other hand, has had a long association with the government as he has worked in the Planning Commission from 1973 to 1987 and also been the chief economic adviser in the department of economic affairs. He retired from the United Nations in 2003 as the under-secretary general for economic and social affairs.

JNU will forward their names to the Ministry of Human Resource and Development in the next few days. The third nominee, who will also head the search committee, will be chosen by the Visitor of JNU — the President of India in this case.

The constitution of the search committee comes after the Executive Council (the highest decision making body) of JNU shot down the proposal of extending the current Vice-Chancellor B.B. Bhattacharya's term in its meeting held on April 27. Bhattacharya steps down as V-C on June 29.