New Delhi: Even as students and teachers of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), on Monday, boycotted classes amid a standoff with the administration over the fee hike issue, the JNU Teachers’ Association (JNUTA) told the HRD ministry that they “do not feel secure” in the campus and the atmosphere there was not conducive for academic activities.
Registering his protest against the recent incidents, Prof Amit Bhaduri decided to give up his emeritus professorship at JNU.
The classes were supposed to begin on Monday but could not start due to the collective boycott.
Meanwhile, the JNU administration, on Monday, issued an advisory to teachers to resume their classes in the interest of students.
The campus saw violence on January 5 when a masked mob attacked students and teachers.
The students’ Union had earlier said that it would ensure registration by paying only the tuition fees and not the increased hostel charges.
However, it kept the decision on hold after it found that the administration had blocked the registration portal for many students.
The teachers’ association has also given a call for “non-cooperation” in academic matters over a range of issues, including that of fee hike and the January 5 violence.
Teachers and students have been demanding the sacking of vice-chancellor M. Jagadesh Kumar.
According to professor Hari Ram Mishra of the School of Sanskrit and Indic Studies, some students attended classes but many of them are still not back in campus.
“The classes should commence in a proper way in the next couple of days,” he said.
In a meeting with the human resource development (HRD) officials, the JNUTA told officials that they “do not feel secure” in the campus and the atmosphere there was not conducive for academic activities.
