Panel formed to end MSU stalemate

While a fresh demand was put up on Tuesday to disband the MSU probe committee8212;it has come in for veiled criticism from the Chancellor herself8212;along with formation of a negotiating committee, teachers are hoping that meetings with HRD Minister Arjun Singh, UGC Chairman S Thorat, CPIM leader Sitaram Yechury, NDA leader Maneka Gandhi and Gujarat Governor Nawal Kishore Sharma will bear some fruit.

With the HRD Ministry, UGC and the NHRC having already taken note of the Fine Arts Faculty fracas, the support group in Delhi, with which Prof Panikkar had sought audience, visited the JNU campus and met Maneka Gandhi.

While there has been no meeting with any BJP leader so far, some believe that Maneka Gandhi, with her rapport with Gujarat BJP leaders, would be able to effect a breakthrough.

Kannal said the committee has been formed to take up negotiations in the right direction.

Meanwhile, some teachers said they would prefer a dialogue directly with the MSU V-C instead of speaking to Pro V-C S M Joshi or any other authority.

Row on, results in limbo

MSU registrar A V Gupta has sought the exam evaluation details from Prof Panikkar, which he had as chairman of the exams in the faculty. 8220;Since Prof Panikkar was chairman of the examination, we had asked him to return the papers if the evaluation was over. But we failed to get any satisfactory answer from him,8221; Gupta said. Panikkar said, 8220;I decided not to do anything after consulting my lawyer. Since I am under suspension, any work done by me for the university would amount to illegal work.8221;