Teachers write to Prez, seek removal of JNU V-C, reinstatement of dismissed faculty member

The Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers’ Association (JNUTA) has written to President Droupadi Murmu, invoking her capacity as the visitor of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), urging her to remove Vice-Chancellor Prof Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit.

The association has also urged the President to annul the dismissal of Rohan VH Choudhari, a faculty member of the Centre for Political Studies.

JNUTA alleged that the V-C had bypassed statutory norms, concentrated power in her office, and turned JNU into a “personal fiefdom.” It said the termination of Choudhari was “vindictive” and carried out without due process.

“The dismissal from service of a young faculty member without due cause or process is driven purely by personal vendetta and meant to send a signal to all teachers to accept her authority over the University without question,” the letter stated.

“What has been happening here is a steady process of undermining of all statutory bodies and processes of consultation. The V-C is concentrating power to influence matters of appointment and promotions, probations and confirmations of newly-appointed teachers. It won't even spare allocation of faculty housing,” JNUTA wrote.

The association said disciplinary action taken against Choudhari rested on flimsy grounds.

The letter further noted that despite Pandit’s past record of misconduct, teachers had refrained from criticism in the hope that, as an alumna, she would be sympathetic to concerns of the faculty. “Instead, her tenure has been marked by teachers feeling disenfranchised and their dignity being trampled upon repeatedly,” it added

Calling the situation “irreversible,” JNUTA said there was no scope left for reconciliation. It urged the President to “end the governance crisis” and also sought an opportunity to meet her personally to explain its position.

Rohan Vekatesh Halapeti Choudhari, an assistant professor at JNU’s Centre for Political Studies, has been terminated for “unauthorised absence” during probation, a decision the JNU Teachers’ Association (JNUTA) denounced as “illegal and barbaric.” Choudhari, who joined in April 2024, took leave on May 16–17 but returned only on July 8 after 51 days, informing his chairperson only over phone. The move was approved by the university’s Executive Council on August 26.

JNUTA’s Key Demands to the President

• Remove JNU VC Prof Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit for “misuse of power”, undermining statutory processes.
• Annul the dismissal of Dr Rohan V.H. Choudhari, faculty member at Centre for Political Studies.
• Restore democratic functioning of JNU’s statutory bodies to put an end to autocratic decision-making.
• End arbitrary practices in faculty appointments, promotions, confirmations and housing allotments.
• Safeguard institutional integrity of JNU from what JNUTA calls a drift towards “personal fiefdom.”
• Grant JNUTA a personal audience with the President to explain its position.