New Delhi: The Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union (JNUSU) and the Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers’ Association (JNUTA) have demanded the resignation of Vice-Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit following allegations of serious irregularities in faculty recruitment.
In a joint public statement issued on August 13, 2026, the two bodies stated that the fundamental institutional framework of JNU, established under an Act of Parliament, is being dismantled through an abuse of administrative power.
The unions addressed a charter of demands to the President of India in the capacity of Visitor, the Chancellor, the Ministry of Education, the University Grants Commission, and members of Parliament.
They alleged that appointments, promotions, and housing allotments are decided on personal or political affiliations rather than merit or standardised seniority norms. The established rotation system for appointing deans and chairpersons, they said, is being bypassed.
JNUSU president Aditi Mishra told journalists that the Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC), under its current Director, exceeded its statutory mandate by altering, reinstating, or adding candidates to recruitment shortlists after expert screening committees had already deemed them ineligible.
The statement further alleged that meetings of statutory bodies such as the Executive Council are treated as formalities to endorse decisions already taken by the Vice-Chancellor, limiting open deliberation and dissent.
Official records including RTI responses and Executive Council dissent notes indicate that at least seven faculty members were appointed in direct violation of UGC regulations and JNU’s own statutes. Shortlists were allegedly modified by the IQAC without the knowledge or approval of the original screening committees, directly benefiting specific individuals, including a former PhD student of the Vice-Chancellor.
The unions demanded a time-bound, independent probe under Section 8 of the JNU Act to investigate recruitment practices, Career Advancement Scheme promotions, IQAC operations, and Executive Council approvals since February 2022.
Additional demands include the Vice-Chancellor stepping aside from administrative oversight of matters under investigation, IQAC Director Prof. P.R. Kumaraswamy being divested of all recruitment and promotion responsibilities, and the seven named faculty members being relieved of academic and administrative duties pending inquiry.
The charter also calls for immediate custody of all electronic and physical files related to recruitment and promotion from February 2022 onward, a complete review of all direct faculty appointments against UGC guidelines, and a public disclosure of the 2022 Search-cum-Selection Committee records and the process that led to the appointment of the current Vice-Chancellor.
