Admission policy row: JNU teachers oppose quota for teachers’ wards

By A Representative 

The Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers’ Association has opposed a proposal to introduce a 5% supernumerary quota for wards of university employees, including teachers, calling it a “regressive” shift in admission policy and demanding its immediate withdrawal.

In a statement issued after its General Body meeting held on April 21, the association said members had “unanimously decided to oppose” the move, which it attributed to a unilateral decision by Vice Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit. The body maintained that the proposal “stemmed not from any demand raised by teachers” and described it as an outcome of “absolute control over the decision-making process.”

The teachers’ body argued that priority should instead be given to strengthening the university’s existing admission framework, particularly the deprivation points system. It called for the restoration of deprivation points in PhD admissions and their consistent application across programmes, stating that such measures would better address concerns related to inclusion and gender balance.

“The teachers of the University and their collective body have never sought such a privilege for their wards,” the statement said, adding that elected teacher representatives had recorded their dissent in writing despite not being allowed to speak at the Executive Council meeting.

The association also expressed concern that extending quota benefits to teachers’ children could undermine existing provisions meant for wards of non-teaching staff in Groups B, C and D. It described those provisions as “a vital measure” for ensuring access to students from less privileged backgrounds, and said granting similar benefits to teachers’ wards “lacks any rational or ethical justification.”

Criticising the committee that recommended the quota, the association said it failed to provide a convincing rationale and had reached its conclusions after limited deliberation. It reiterated its position with an “emphatic NO” to the proposal.

The statement further urged the administration to address what it described as pending concerns of faculty, including issues related to promotions, recruitment processes, housing allocation, and campus facilities such as childcare.

The association also raised broader concerns regarding governance and decision-making within Jawaharlal Nehru University, stating that it would formally communicate its objections to the Visitor and the Ministry of Education.