JNU teachers today observed a day-long strike against suspension of a varsity professor on charges of financial irregularities.
"The decision of the Vice Chancellor to suspend a faculty member and to initiate disciplinary proceedings was wholly unjustified and disproportionate response to the matter at hand. It can only be understood as a move motivated by the sole purpose of intimidating the teachers," a member of the JNU Teachers Association (JNUTA) alleged.
Agnihotri, a professor at JNU's Centre of Languages and Vice President of JNU Teachers Association (JNUTA), was last week suspended by the university following complaints that he claimed LTC and medical reimbursements of over Rs 50,000 for his parents by submitting false certificates.
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The university has also ordered an inquiry against him.
According to JNUTA, there have been several other decisions by the administration in the recent past that are an attack on "autonomy" of the varsity and "regressive" in nature.
"The current moves of the university administration and its previous acts of commission and omission are a clear indication of the contempt in which they hold not only the teachers in JNU but also the teaching profession as such. Not only are these decisions regressive in nature but also attack the autonomy of the university," the member alleged.
The decision to go on a day-long strike was taken during an Executive Council (EC) meeting of JNUTA on August 1.
