JNUTA to launch 'padyatra'

The members of Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers'Association (JNUTA) announced to intensify their ongoing agitation against the "undemocratic and unilateral" functioning of the administration on Wednesday. They decided to launch a 'padyatra' to Parliament in defense of "public education" in the country on Friday.

Addressing a press conference, JNUTA president Sonajharia Minz said, "The administration should immediately withdraw the notification of replacing the seven chairpersons and one dean, who were replaced for opposing the administration's decision of implementing compulsory attendance rule."

Responding on the administration's silence over Professor Atul Johri's future in the university, the JNUTA said, "We are deeply shocked to see the JNU administration's inaction on the question of serious charges of sexual harassment and financial misappropriation against a teacher who has been entrusted with multiple administrative positions. This is in stark contrast with the swift action in cases of 'insubordination' identified by the administration."

The JNUTA also demanded an immediate withdrawal of circulars issued without the approval of the relevant bodies at the university.

Meanwhile, the administration issued a notification urging the JNU community to "maintain normalcy in the campus". The JNU campus has been witnessing protests for the last five days over several issues simultaneously.