Teachers in JNU protest suspension of professor

Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) teachers on Friday observed a day-long strike against suspension of a varsity professor on charges of financial irregularities and fraud.

“The decision of the vice-chancellor to suspend a faculty member and to initiate disciplinary proceedings was wholly unjustified and disproportionate response to the matter at hand. It can only be understood as a move motivated by the sole purpose of intimidating the teachers,” alleged a member of JNUTA.

Last week, the university, following complaints that the professor claimed LTC and medical reimbursements of over Rs 50,000 for his parents by submitting false certificates, suspended Mr Agnihotri, a professor at centre of languages.

According to the JNUTA, there have been several other decisions by the administration in the recent past that are an attack on “autonomy” of the varsity and “regressive” in nature.

“The current moves of the university and its previous acts of commission and omission are a clear indication of the contempt in which they hold not only the teachers in JNU, but also the teaching profession as such,” the member alleged.