JNU students, teachers demand V-C's resignation over alleged recruitment irregularities
Jawaharlal Nehru University's students' and teachers' unions have called for the resignation of Vice-Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit, following allegations of irregularities in faculty recruitment and promotions. The JNUSU and JNUTA submitted a charter of demands on Thursday (August 13, 2026) to the President of India (Visitor of the University), the Chancellor, the Ministry of Education, the University Grants Commission, and Members of Parliament.
The joint statement issued by the two unions said the university's institutional framework, established under an Act of Parliament, was being systematically dismantled through an abuse of administrative power. They alleged that rules concerning appointments, promotions, and housing allotments were applied arbitrarily, based on personal or political-ideological affiliations rather than merit or standardised seniority norms. The unions cited instances where the established rotation system for appointing deans and chairpersons was bypassed.
JNUSU president Aditi Mishra, at a press conference in New Delhi, alleged that the Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC), under its current Director, exceeded its statutory mandate. According to her, the IQAC altered, reinstated, or added candidates to recruitment shortlists after expert screening committees at the Centre and school level had already deemed them ineligible.
The statement also alleged that statutory bodies, such as the Executive Council, were treated as mere formalities to rubber-stamp decisions already taken by the Vice-Chancellor, restricting open deliberation and dissent. It highlighted recent media coverage and official records, including RTI responses and Executive Council dissent notes, indicating that at least seven faculty members were allegedly appointed in direct violation of UGC regulations and JNU's own statutes.
The memorandum further alleged that shortlists were modified by the IQAC without the knowledge or approval of the original subject-matter expert committees, directly benefiting specific individuals, including a former PhD student of the Vice-Chancellor. Ms. Mishra said rules were allegedly stretched to favour select candidates while being rigidly or inappropriately applied to penalise others.
The unions have demanded a time-bound, independent probe under Section 8 of the JNU Act to investigate recruitment practices, Career Advancement Scheme (CAS) promotions, IQAC operations, and Executive Council approvals since February 2022. They have also demanded that the Vice-Chancellor step aside from administrative oversight of matters under investigation, and that IQAC Director Prof. P.R. Kumaraswamy be divested of all recruitment and promotion responsibilities immediately. The seven faculty members named in the investigative report should be relieved of academic and administrative duties pending the inquiry's outcome, the unions said.
The charter also calls for immediate securing and independent custody of all electronic and physical files, screening notes, e-office logs, and Executive Council minutes related to recruitment and promotion from February 2022 onward. The unions have additionally demanded a complete review of all direct faculty appointments made since February 2022 against UGC guidelines, reservation rules, and essential qualification criteria, and a public disclosure and review of the 2022 Search-cum-Selection Committee records, vigilance clearances, and background verification process that led to the appointment of the current Vice-Chancellor.
