New Delhi: The Union Ministry of Education has begun its search for the next vice-chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) as incumbent M. Jagadesh Kumar’s term ends January 2021.
The ministry issued an ad Saturday for a new appointee.
The ad invites applications from “distinguished academicians, with a minimum of 10 years’ of experience as professor in a university or 10 years’ of experience in a reputed research and/or academic administrative organisation with proof of having demonstrated academic leadership”.
The appointment will be made from a panel of names recommended by a committee constituted under the provisions of the Jawaharlal Nehru University Act, 1966.
Kumar took over the post in January 2016.
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A controversial tenure
Kumar, who will demit office on 31 January 2021, had a rather controversial stint at the university. Within a month after joining as V-C, the university was hit by the sedition controversy following demonstrations in support of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru, who was hanged in February 2013.
The controversy, stemming from alleged chanting of “anti-national” slogans during the demonstrations, led to an FIR against student leaders Umar Khalid, Kanhaiya Kumar and Anirban Bhattacharya. What followed was a series of protests against the V-C by the JNU Students Union (JNUSU).
In 2019, the university was marred by another controversy, over an increase in the hostel fee. The administration increased the hostel room fee from Rs 10 per month to Rs 300 for a double room and Rs 20 to Rs 600 for a single room, adding Rs 1,700 as a service charge.
The hike led to massive protests from students that lasted two-three months, until the education ministry finally intervened and the administration rolled the hike back partially.
If effected in its original form, the hike would have made JNU the most expensive central university in the country.
During the protests, there were demands by students and teachers that the V-C be removed, but the Education Ministry decided against it. “The JNU V-C is doing good, why should action be taken against him?” Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ had said at the time.
Earlier this year, another controversy erupted when masked assailants entered the JNU campus and attacked students and teachers following a clash between two groups of students. The assailants are yet to be identified.
Also Read: Smriti Irani didn’t want Jagadesh Kumar as JNU V-C but Pranab Mukherjee picked him anyway
I hope a strong person is brought in so that this terror and naxal hideout called JNU can be converted into a college where students work for the betterment of this country and not for breaking it.
Good riddance. The worst person for the job. He brought the premier institution into disrepute. SOB