JNU ‘strongly advises’ students to go home

JNU ‘strongly advises’ students to go home

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:26.05.2020

The JNU administration on Monday issued a circular “strongly advising” students to vacate the university hostel and return from their hometowns only when the session starts.

However, this has prompted sharp reaction from students and the faculty who called it an attempt by the university authority to shirk off responsibility. They also claimed the circular was not enforceable and just an advisory.

As per the circular, issued from the dean of students office, it was in continuation of previous circulars dated March 16 and 19 when students were informed about the closing of the university in compliance with the government notifications.

“However, many students requested to stay back in hostels at that time due to non-availability of public transport during the lockdown,” the JNU administration pointed out. But Indian Railways has now begun special trains and around 200 more are going to run from June 1, and bus and taxi services are also being started by state governments, it stated.

Following the Union home ministry and Delhi government guidelines, the university has announced that students can return to the campus on or after June 25, it added.

However, Surajit Mazumdar, the JNU Teachers’ Association secretary, said, “The circular is not enforceable but shows that the JNU administration is not ready to fulfil its responsibilities.”

The JNU Students’ Union JNUSU called the circular “shameful and condemnable”. While the administration acknowledges that the number of cases is increasing in Delhi, “is it advisable that students venture out and put their lives at risk?” it asked. “Since the pandemic shows no sign of slowing down, does the administration intend to make students undergo the hardship of travel twice in the space of a month?”

The JNU administration alleged some students were playing politics over the circular. “They are discouraging willing students to go home when a month is left before the university reopens,” said registrar Pramod Kumar.