The university’s decision has created uproar among student and teacher fraternity
The Jawaharlal Nehru University's (JNU) decision to replace the 18-year-old Gender Sensitisation Committee Against Sexual Harassment (GSCASH) with an Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) has been slammed by the varsity's women groups. Several groups have, in fact, written to Vice-Chancellor (V-C) Jagadesh Kumar, urging him to retract any attempt to "dilute" the autonomous nature of the body.
"It is regrettable that in the recent past, the JNU administration has made concerted attempts to erode the independent functioning of the GSCASH and violate its norms and rules. This fact is particularly alarming because the administration has approached the Executive Council and tried to get some cases of sexual harassment against persons in authority removed," read the letter undersigned by several women's groups, including the All India Progressive Women's Association and ANHAD.
The university's decision has created uproar among student and teacher fraternity on the campus, mainly regarding the authorities' direct involvement in selecting the members for ICC. GSCASH included four elected faculty members, of whom at least two were women, four elected student representatives, of whom at least two were women, an elected woman official, as well as an elected woman staff member, among others. The ICC, however, will have only three student representatives, three faculty members, and two non-teaching staffers.
The students have been protesting over the issue. "We will not let the administration attack the autonomous and democratic composition of GSCASH and replace it with its handpicked 'nominated' members," JNU Student Union's (JNUSU) newly elected President Geeta Kumar said. Kumar is also a member of GSCASH.
The letter added: "We extend our support to protesting students and urge the V-C and members of the Executive Council to retract any attempt to dilute the effectiveness of GSCASH."
CREATES UPROAR
- The university’s decision has created uproar among student and teacher fraternity.
- The students have been protesting over the issue.
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