JNU teachers’ association writes to dean over termination of faculty

In an open letter, the Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers Association (JNUTA) has accused Prof Vivek Kumar, Dean of the School of Social Sciences (SSS), of being a party in “illegal and vindictive” termination of a faculty member, Dr Rohan Venkatesh Halapeti Choudhari.

This is the second in a series of open letters that JNUTA has written to Kumar calling the termination illegal.

An official order issued on August 27 said that Dr Choudhari, who was appointed to the Centre for Political Studies, School of Social Sciences in April 2024, was on probation for two years. The order stated that his probation was extended due to “unsatisfactory performance” and that he had also taken 51 days of unauthorised leave between May and July 2024 without prior permission. Following a show-cause notice, a committee inquiry and personal hearing, the Executive Council approved his termination with immediate effect.

JNUTA remarked that Kumar had acted against the interests and rights of the faculty. According to JNUTA, the committee headed by the dean had only recommended initiation of disciplinary proceedings, citing alleged violations of leave and conduct rules.

The teachers’ body pointed out that no performance reports of Choudhari were examined and described the decision as arbitrary and unjustified. It also accused the dean of “playing out a part assigned by the Vice-Chancellor” rather than exercising independent judgment.

JNUTA has also raised concerns about the denial of promotion to four colleagues, three of them from the School of Social Sciences, including one teacher who is only 15 days from retirement.

JNUTA also criticised the recent selection committee meetings, where in the outcome of 12 cases for faculty appointments was declared “none found suitable,” including for applicants who were already serving teachers of the university. The association called this a ‘mockery of fairness and damaging to the morale of the teaching community’.

JNUTA has requested President Droupadi Murmu to remove the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit, from her position.