New Delhi: Forty-eight teachers of the Jawaharlal Nehru University, many of whom are members of the teachers’ union, have been issued notices by vice-chancellor Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar for participating in a day-long strike on July 31 last year. The teachers have to submit a “written statement of defence” by August 7, failing which an ex-parte inquiry will be initiated.
According to a statement by the JNU Teachers’ Association (JNUTA), the charges have been framed “under Rule 14 of the Central Civil Services (Classification, Control, and Appeal), Rules 1965 and invokes sections of the CCS (Conduct) Rules 1964”. It also refers to directions of the Delhi high court prohibiting protests within 100 m of the administrative block.
Refuting both the charges, JNUTA argues that CCS rules should not be applicable to autonomous institutions like universities as it would come in the way of academic freedom. It also claims that the high court ruling is applicable only to students.
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A UGC-MHRD circular dated May 1, 2018, said, “such time that the concerned university formulates its statutes, ordinances, and regulations, for service matters…the university should follow the govt. of India rules/orders as applicable to central govt. civilian employees”. Proceedings against these 48 teachers were initiated after this circular enabled the imposition of CCS in JNU.
A detailed critique of the imposition of CCS rules on universities can be found here.
This circular faced widespread resistance from both teachers and students last year. After prolonged protests on the issues, the then HRD minister Prakash Javadekar had tweeted that, “We have neither put any restrictions nor intend to put any restrictions on “Freedom of Speech” in JNU, Delhi University or any other University.” The JNUTA argues that it is the stated position of the human resource development ministry that the CCS is not applicable to teachers.
JNUTA also claims that protests in the university had “forced the JNU Vice-Chancellor to withdraw his plans to impose CCS Rules in the 276th meeting of the JNU Executive Council held on Oct 22, 2018”. The Indian Express reported on October 23 that the VC had also declared that no CCS Rules were incorporated in JNU ordinances. “The V-C has also confirmed that no CCS rules have been incorporated in JNU ordinances,” the newspaper quoted registrar Pramod Kumar as saying.
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Calling it “the latest in a chain of arbitrary disciplinary proceedings” against individual teachers, the JNUTA claims the goal of the notice is harassment and intimidation. The teachers’ union has expressed solidarity with teachers who it claims “have been selectively and vindictively targeted” by the JNU administration. They allege that this is a reaction to teachers raising their voices against the “misdeeds and mismanagement of the university”.
Last year’s strike, for which the notices have been served, was called in response to alleged violations of reservation policy in the university, “arbitrary removal and appointment” of chairpersons and deans, “harassment and selected targeting” of teachers and various other administrative and procedural issues. The teachers were demanding that the VC be sacked and now feel that the administration is being vindictive about it.
JNU VC M Jagadesh Kumar. Photo: PTI
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Beyond such allegedly “arbitrary” action, imposing CCS rules in universities is bound to have a wider impact on free speech as it prohibits criticism of the government and its policies and restricts various activities considered integral to academic life. The rules bar a government official from “participating in any political activity, to strike work and also to publish anything without the permission of the government”. A detailed response from the JNU faculty on this can be read here.
In the past couple of years, there have been regular protests in JNU as neither the students’ union nor the teachers’ union has been satisfied with the way the VC Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar has been running the university. He is seen by many as a loyalist of the Central government who has been assigned the task of ‘depoliticising’ the university. In January this year, 49 MPs from different parties wrote to then HRD minister Prakash Javadekar demanding the removal of the JNU VC and demanded an inquiry against him.
Also read: Civil Service Rules Will Take Away Our Freedom to Dissent: JNU Faculty
The JNU Students’ Union has also expressed support and solidarity with the 48 teachers. “The chargesheet comes at a time when the JNU community is fighting against dictatorial policies of the JNU VC which are anti-student and anti-education. This is an attack on the university, on learning and teaching,” JNUSU president N. Sai Balaji told The Wire.
Atul Sood, JNUTA president, told The Wire that the teachers marched in protest because the administration wasn’t responding to the letters sent by them raising various issues of concern. He claims that it was a peaceful gathering and there was no disruption of any kind that deserves disciplinary action.
“It seems like the JNU administration doesn’t believe in responding to important stakeholders like teachers. We were seeking a response on why the university is not being run as per the JNU Act and received no response at all,” he added. He claims that an attempt is being made to paint teachers as troublemakers while it’s actually the administration that is flouting rules and regulations.
The Wire has emailed a questionnaire to the JNU VC. The story will be updated when there’s a response.