Faculty housing row: Delhi High Court issues notice to JNU administration

By A Representative

The Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers' Association (JNUTA) has welcomed the Delhi High Court's decision to issue notice to the JNU administration in a petition challenging changes to the university's faculty housing allotment policy.

According to a statement issued by JNUTA, the High Court, in its July 20, 2026 order in W.P.(C) 8020/2026 (Ajmer Singh Kajal & Others vs JNU & Others), directed the university to file a counter-affidavit within four weeks. The court also sought a specific response to the petitioners' request for complete details of housing allotments made following amendments to the housing rules in August 2025.

The teachers' association described the court's intervention as an important step toward ensuring accountability and transparency in the university's housing allotment process. It alleged that the amendments introduced in August 2025 granted the Vice-Chancellor wider discretionary powers by removing the earlier 5% cap on discretionary housing allotments.

JNUTA claimed that the revised rules departed from established government norms, which, according to the association, restrict out-of-turn allotments to a limited percentage of annual vacancies and only under exceptional circumstances such as medical, security or functional requirements. The association also said it had earlier raised the issue with JNU's Chief Vigilance Officer.

The association argued that the previous seniority-based housing allotment system ensured transparency and equal treatment for faculty members, while the amended rules increased executive discretion. It further alleged that such changes could affect fairness in the allocation of campus accommodation.

JNUTA reiterated its demand that residential accommodation for both teaching and non-teaching staff should be allotted strictly on the basis of transparent and publicly accessible seniority lists.

The matter is currently before the Delhi High Court, and the JNU administration is expected to file its response in accordance with the court's directions. The university has not yet publicly responded to the allegations made by JNUTA.

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