JNU referendum: Over 90 percent of teachers want VC out

In a referendum held on August 7, over 90 per cent Jawaharlal Nehru University teachers have voted against Vice Chancellor Jagadesh Kumar in support of his ousting. The referendum, supervised by external observers, clearly showed that the current vice chancellor should not continue any further, JNU Teachers Association (JNUTA) said in a statement.

“As many as 93 per cent of the JNU teachers voted against the vice chancellor in the referendum. Out of total 586 listed faculty members at JNU, 300 turned up to cast their votes. Among the voters, 279 teachers voted in favour of the VC being relieved,” it added.

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The allegations included ‘a general atmosphere of fear’ and individual teachers being being targeted and issued notices for expressing “dissent” on academic and other issues.

The teachers also voted against a demand by the varsity for a multi-crore loan from the government through the Higher Education Fund Agency (HEFA), the statement said.

The HEFA loan was rejected by 96 per cent of the teachers who took part in the referendum, JNUTA said.