JNU teachers who dissociated from JNUTA form new federation, welcome fee cut

The professors of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) who had dissociated themselves from the JNU Teachers' Association (JNUTA) have now formed a new organisation with the support of 123 teachers — Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers’ Federation (JNUTF). They have also welcomed the circular issued by JNU administration on November 25, announcing a reduction in the much-talked-about hostel fees.

Dr Nagendra Shreeniwas, one of the professors of the JNUTF said that they want the classes to resume and normalcy to be back on campus and that is why to welcomed the admin's decision. "The university has not been functioning properly for the past month and this is the start of a dialogue. We just want our students to come back to class and labs," said Dr Shreeniwas, Assistant Professor, Centre of Russian Studies. "We rejected the MHRD appointed committee because there was no logic behind its formation in the first place. There are protests all around the country so should they form a committee everywhere?" he asked.

"A vast majority of the students want to return to their classes and complete their sessional requirements to be eligible to appear in the end semester examinations that will begin from December 12. The JNUTF appeals to all the students to resume classes and prepare for their end semester examination," read a statement from the JNUTF. "We hope that the good sense will prevail in the JNU community at large. We also hope that the current crisis will be resolved amicably and academic career of the students will not suffer," it further read.

But is the JNUTF a new teachers' organisation then? Surajit Mazumdar, the Secretary of JNUTA said that they have not received a formal letter from any of the teachers stating that they want to leave the JNUTA. Dr Sreeniwas responded to this and said that they are still part of the JNUTA and have not decided what to do in the future. "We did not leave the JNUTA. We just dissociated from the organisation. We have not decided about the future yet," said the professor.