The Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers’ Association (JNUTA) has demanded an immediate freeze on all ongoing recruitment for teaching and non-teaching positions at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). This call comes amid allegations of significant procedural violations and irregularities that are said to have occurred during the tenure of Vice-Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit. According to JNUTA, the recruitment process was initiated under Advertisement No. RC/75/2026 on August 14, despite existing concerns regarding these alleged violations raised in an investigation by The Reporters’ Collective (TRC).

In its statement, JNUTA characterised its opposition to the ongoing recruitment activities as “fierce” and “unequivocal”. The association has called for an immediate cessation of all recruitment processes, asserting that the university administration has contravened the regulations set by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and has also neglected established academic norms and practices. Specific allegations include manipulation of expert panels and a failure to adhere to rotation based on seniority for the appointments of Deans and Chairpersons.

Moreover, JNUTA asserted that the elected teacher representatives within the university’s Executive Council have allegedly been silenced. The association voiced that “every single appointment made since 2022 stands tainted and suspect,” thereby questioning the legitimacy of these processes.

Allegations of Irregularities and Conflicts of Interest

JNUTA has also provided further details regarding alleged irregularities in the shortlisting and selection of candidates for recruitment. It claims that individuals who were initially deemed ineligible by the shortlisting committee were later included in the final pool and subsequently chosen for positions. Additionally, there are allegations concerning apparent conflicts of interest involving both the Vice-Chancellor and IQAC Director, Professor PR Kumaraswamy.

The association has expressed concerns about the rapid pace of recruitment, which reportedly includes more than 400 interviews and over 200 appointments, questioning whether these numbers can absolve the university of the alleged violations against statutory protocols. Furthermore, JNUTA highlighted issues surrounding faculty promotions, stating that several faculty members have been awaiting their promotions for over a decade, with claims that those who raised concerns about the administration have faced stagnation in their careers.

In light of these allegations, JNUTA described the current recruitment process as an “outright fraud perpetrated against deserving academics”. The association has formally demanded a freeze on the ongoing recruitment covered under Advertisement No. RC/75/2026 and urged the Ministry of Education to remove the Vice-Chancellor’s recruitment powers, along with the dismissal of both the Vice-Chancellor and the IQAC Director.

JNUTA Calls for Reforms in Entrance Examination System

In addition to its recruitment-related demands, JNUTA has also called for the complete abolition of the National Testing Agency (NTA). The association cited repeated examination breaches and failures that have allegedly undermined the credibility of centralised entrance examinations. JNUTA accused the NTA of compromising the integrity of these tests and described the centralised examination system as a structural failure.

As an alternative, JNUTA has advocated for the restoration of the Jawaharlal Nehru University Entrance Examination (JNUEE), arguing that reinstating university-level entrance tests would enhance institutional autonomy, reduce reliance on a central testing agency, and grant universities greater oversight of their admission processes. The demands of JNUTA are presented amid an ongoing discussion regarding the integrity of examinations, recruitment processes, and the autonomy of higher education institutions.

JNUTA emphasised the necessity for transparent and independent mechanisms to address concerns surrounding appointments and admissions at JNU. The allegations articulated by the association form part of an enduring dispute regarding the university’s recruitment and administrative procedures, with further actions from the Ministry of Education or relevant authorities pending in response to the association’s demands.

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