JNU VC conducts meetings with student representatives, teachers on the crisis faced at the university

JNU Vice-Chancellor Jagadesh Kumar held meetings with the students and teachers of the university to discuss the ways in which normalcy can be restored at the university although, not much progress was made since neither the students nor the administration seemed to back down on their demands.

The students while speaking to the media stated that after the meeting with the Vice-Chancellor nothing was achieved as he did not provide an answer regarding the demand for a complete rollback of the fee hike. The VC also wanted to implement the Yamuna Hostel model across all the hostels in spite of the students' adamant that the students will not pay the amount expected of them.

The university administration in the meeting also said that the end semester exams will be conducted as per the schedule although the students have announced their decision of boycotting the exams. The university stated that the end semester exams were conducted in several schools and centres but the students boycotted the examinations.

The Delhi High Court had directed the police to provide adequate security to the VC, registrar, and the other officials when they enter the administration block.

The VC in his series of meetings held the first meeting with 18 hostel presidents, followed by one with the candidates who contested the elections for the post of the Students Union President and another with the deans of all the schools and chairpersons of the special centres.

The hostel presidents said that the VC has not replied to the demands of a complete rollback of the fee hike and the need to conduct Inter-Hall Administration meetings in a democratic manner. At the meetings conducted the rectors, the registrar, the dean and the associate deans of the students were present along with the university VC which the administration has stated was a significant step towards normalizing the situation in the university with more meetings with the student leaders.

In the meeting conducted, the VC informed the students regarding the discussing with the HRD Minister, secretary and the UGC chairman emphasizing the need to restore the academic activities of the university including conducting the end-semester examinations.

The Vice-Chancellor also explained to the hostel presidents about the revised hostel annual and the issued related to the hostel utility and service charges along with the discussion on the extension of the present semester.

The hostel presidents, on the other hand, have stated that although the administration states that the meetings were important towards normalizing the university the administration only tried to convince them that the services and the utility charges are justified although the hostel presidents have not agreed to the same.

A statement released mentioned that the proposal was rejected by the hostel presidents. The statement also suggested that the administration justified the 10 percent annual hike and nothing substantial came from the university administration.  When the hostel presidents asked the VC tough questions he concluded the meeting. The administration, later on, held meetings with the presidential candidates.

The VC requested the student leaders to talk to the students so that normal academic activities which include exams can be resumed without any delay. The administration of JNU stated that the students and their representatives are always welcome to have a dialogue and discussion and also appealed to the student representatives to call off the strike on the interest of the students.

In the meeting conducted with the deans of the schools and the chairpersons of the Special Centres with the agenda for conducting the end semester exams were discussed. A unanimous decision of conducting the examinations as per the academic calendar was decided and it is expected that the faculty members of all the schools and centres must conduct the exams as per schedule.

The JNU Teachers Association has called out to the dishonest manner in which the administration is willing to descend in order to defend the increasingly untenable position. The JNUTA has also demanded the removal of the VC and have said that until the time he is here the crisis in the university will not be solved. They have stated that until the time he is in the university the crisis in the will not be solved.

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