JNU V-C to seek second term

Irked,the JNU Teachers’ Association passed a unanimous resolution on Monday condemning the move of V-C B B Bhattacharya. “JNUTA expresses its grave concern at the recent Ministry of Human Resource (MHRD) circular for an amendment of JNU statutes to facilitate the reappointment of a V-C for a second term,” the resolution stated.

Bhattacharya,whose five-year-term ends in June this year,refused to comment on the move.

The MHRD circular was received on January 27 this year. It noted that JNU had still not given its V-C the provision of a second term despite seven other Central Universities doing so. The reason for this move,according to the letter,“…is the real dearth of competent people willing to provide academic leadership in our university system”.

JNU had raised the age of retirement of its V-C to 70 following the March 2007 order of the MHRD asking it to do so.

“By stating that there are no available academic leadership,the MHRD is making a mockery of the academic system of the country,” an Executive Council member said.

“There was a genuine shortage of scholars when the university began,and such a move was not proposed even then. It is sad that it had to come 44 years after the enactment of the JNU Act,” the member added.