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Regular-article-logo Friday, 19 April 2024

JNU sits on pledge that would have settled row

The failure in recognising the students’ union prolonged campus unrest

Basant Kumar Mohanty New Delhi Published 07.01.20, 08:23 PM
Students during a protest at the main gate of the Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi on Monday

Students during a protest at the main gate of the Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi on Monday (PTI photo)

The JNU administration has violated the commitment it had given to the government on recognising the students’ union, one of the reasons that prolonged the campus unrest.

The administration and the students’ union (JNUSU) had held a series of meetings with the human resource development ministry on December 10 and 11 to resolve the impasse over a hostel fee hike.

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A point agreed upon by the administration was to recognise the elected JNUSU and notify it as directed by the high court.

According to the record of discussion issued by the ministry, it was agreed that to “provide a platform for dialogue and discussion in an orderly manner, the administration and students would follow the orders of High Court for notification of JNUSU”.

Almost a month has passed but the university authorities are sitting on their commitment.

“They never kept their promises on any issue,” N. Sai Balaji, a student and former JNUSU president, said. “The notification of JNUSU is one such example.”

Another point agreed upon was that JNU would roll back utility and service charges of Rs 12,000 a year for every student staying in hostels.

The university has notified a hostel manual on revised room rates but the notification is silent about withdrawal of utility and service charges. “The JNU’s revised manual is silent on service and utility charges. They will collect them later,” Balaji said.

No comments could be obtained from vice-chancellor Prof. M. Jagadesh Kumar and registrar Pramod Kumar despite calls.

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