Move to extend JNU VC’s term; students, teachers not amused

The attempt to extend the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) Vice Chancellor’s tenure by another term has now found its strongest opposition in shape of an approaching referendum on April 20.

The attempt to extend the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) Vice Chancellor’s tenure by another term has now found its strongest opposition in shape of an approaching referendum on April 20.

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The varsity has been trying to amend its Act in order to make the VC eligible for a second term.

The issue was raised during the Executive Council (EC) meeting held on April 6. The EC, however, could not reach a consensus on the issue.

The present provision in the JNU Act mentions that the vice chancellor will serve a period of 5 years or till the age of 70 whichever is earlier and will be ineligible for re-appointment.

Current VC B.B. Bhattacharya’s tenure ends in June.

The proposal for term extension has ruffled feathers, especially among students.

To express their disapproval, the students will hold a direct vote to reject the proposal entirely. A referendum of this nature will be a first in the varsity’s history.

Student groups on campus — All India Students Association, National Students’ Union of India, Democratic Students’ Union and Students’ Federation of India, among others — have issued a common appeal to unite against the attempt and vote on April 20.

“Such a move will set a fundamentally dangerous precedent for our university and must be unequivocally rejected. We also condemn the fact that such a decision was being sought to be pushed through in the EC without consultation with any section of the university community,” said the joint statement issued by the student groups.

Teachers have already expressed their disapproval through a memorandum submitted to the VC just a day before the EC meeting.

They had asked him to remove the issue from the agenda of the EC.