The Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers’ Association (JNUTA) initiated a 24-hour hunger strike and protest today against the university administration’s alleged high-handed, arbitrary, and discriminatory approach to faculty appointments and promotions under the Career Advancement Scheme (CAS).
Despite inclement weather, numerous faculty members participated in the protest, showing solidarity with colleagues, including the JNUTA President, who were undertaking a 24-hour fast. Former DUTA and FEDCUTA President Nandita Narayan, and elected Delhi University Academic Council member Maya John joined the protest, highlighting the common struggles faced by faculty across different universities. The Ambedkar University Teachers’ Association (AUDFA) also expressed solidarity, receiving reciprocal support from the JNUTA.
The protest is fueled by a stalled and distorted promotion process affecting nearly every university teacher. The process has been marred by selectivity, excessive delays, and alleged coercion of faculty to compromise their entitlements to secure promotions. The situation has worsened with a complete halt to promotions, despite a growing backlog of eligible candidates. This is seen as a deliberate tactic to prevent teachers’ representatives from addressing concerns about harassment, victimization, and the denial of legitimate rights.
The JNUTA contends that promotions are being weaponized to subdue faculty and systematically discriminate based on social, religious, academic, or ideological backgrounds, as well as for criticizing the university administration. Similar discriminatory practices are observed in the appointment process, with a decline in academic oversight and checks and balances. The role of academic departments in forming expert panels and their representation in selection committees has been undermined.
The integrity of the faculty appointment process, compromised under the previous Vice Chancellor, remains questionable. This has led to numerous unfilled positions, particularly in reserved categories. The JNUTA views these issues as symptoms of a broader erosion of democratic governance at JNU under both the previous and current Vice Chancellors. Centralization of power, lack of transparency, and accountability have paved the way for increased government interference and erosion of the university’s autonomy. The chaotic JNU admission process is another example of these consequences.
