JNUSU ends hunger strike after 15 days, says officials vowed to look into its demands
The breakthrough was achieved after JNU Vice-Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit invited the union members earlier in the day for deliberations over the demands that also included revocation of the hostel eviction order for PhD scholars on extension and increasing the amount of merit-cum-means scholarships.
'The administration has assured us that a committee is being formed to look into the reinstatement of JNU Entrance Exam (JNUEE). The administration will also recall the notice regarding the undertaking by PhD students on extensions for availing of the hostel facilities. The Registrar will write to the University Grants Commission to increase merit-cum-means scholarships,' the union said in a statement. 'The committee on the JNUEE will also take the suggestions from student faculty committees and councillors,' it added.
There was no official statement from the university on accepting the demands till the time of going to the press. When reached for comment, the V-C office did not respond.
Following the announcement by the union, the campus roared with 'Laal Salaam'. The union appealed to all the students to gather at the protest site for the celebrations.
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New Indian Express
14 hours ago
- New Indian Express
No support for reinstating JNU Entrance Examination for PhD admissions: VC
NEW DELHI: Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) Vice-Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit responded to the ongoing student protests on Friday, stating there is no support from any academic school or centre for reinstating the JNU Entrance Examination (JNUEE) for PhD admissions. Pandit clarified that the decision to adopt the CUET and UGC-NET as admission routes was unanimously endorsed by the university's deans and that her responsibility is to implement these academic decisions. The Vice-Chancellor's statement came as the JNU Students' Union (JNUSU) entered the third week of its indefinite hunger strike, which began on June 26. The student body has been demanding the reinstatement of JNUEE, automatic hostel extensions for research scholars, an increase in the Merit-cum-Means (MCM) scholarship, and the withdrawal of disciplinary actions against protesting students. Despite the worsening health of some protesters, the administration has remained firm. In a statement issued on the university's official social media handle, Pandit expressed concern for students' well-being but emphasised that the policy changes cannot be made unilaterally. She reiterated that 'the administration is open to dialogue and willing to engage with students through institutional and democratic channels.' The JNUSU, however, has remained resolute, accusing the administration of 'centralised and undemocratic' decision-making. Student leaders also criticised the decision to host the Vice-President during the ongoing protests, alleging that student voices are being ignored. They warned that protests would escalate if their demands are not met. As the hunger strike entered its 15th day, tensions remained high, with student organisations like NSUI, AISA, and SFI showing solidarity with the protesters.
Indian Express
a day ago
- Indian Express
JNU V-C urges students to end hunger strike
As the indefinite hunger strike led by Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) entered its 15th day on Friday, Vice-Chancellor Santishree D Pandit, in a letter, urged the students to end their protest and resume dialogue with the administration. 'Your expectations of immediate acceptance of all your demands is neither administratively realistic nor legally tenable,' Pandit wrote in a letter addressed to the protesting students. 'I, once again, urge you to immediately end your hunger strike and come for a meeting to resolve issues through negotiations and mutual understanding.' Citing health concerns, she added: 'Despite repeated medical evaluation and advice from doctors to discontinue in your long-term interests, you have chosen to persist. Let me remind you that you held repeated meetings with me and the administration.' The protest began in June after the university refused to grant automatic extension of hostel accommodation rights to research scholars who have received academic extensions to complete their PhDs. At the heart of the stand-off is an undertaking issued by the Dean of Students on July 7, which required students seeking hostel extension to declare their PhD submission date and acknowledge that such extensions are granted only 'on humanitarian grounds subject to the availability of hostel accommodation on a case-to-case basis'. In response, JNUSU argued the undertaking disregarded the material realities of research scholars, especially those who are not (National Eligibility Test) NET-qualified and receive a meager Rs 8,000 monthly stipend. 'No one is aware of the things that might happen during fieldwork, which might cause delay,' the statement said, arguing that timelines for PhD submission are not always within students' control. In their July 7 meeting with the Dean, JNUSU demanded that academic extension should by default translate to an extension of hostel accommodation. The union claimed that JNU's refusal to guarantee automatic academic extension can trigger forced dropouts, especially among scholars from financially disadvantaged backgrounds.
The Hindu
a day ago
- The Hindu
JNUSU ends hunger strike after 15 days, says officials vowed to look into its demands
The Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) called off its hunger strike on Friday, the 15th day of the protest, following assurance by the administration to look into its demands, including the reinstatement of in-house entrance examination, for all courses. The breakthrough was achieved after JNU Vice-Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit invited the union members earlier in the day for deliberations over the demands that also included revocation of the hostel eviction order for PhD scholars on extension and increasing the amount of merit-cum-means scholarships. 'The administration has assured us that a committee is being formed to look into the reinstatement of JNU Entrance Exam (JNUEE). The administration will also recall the notice regarding the undertaking by PhD students on extensions for availing of the hostel facilities. The Registrar will write to the University Grants Commission to increase merit-cum-means scholarships,' the union said in a statement. 'The committee on the JNUEE will also take the suggestions from student faculty committees and councillors,' it added. There was no official statement from the university on accepting the demands till the time of going to the press. When reached for comment, the V-C office did not respond. Following the announcement by the union, the campus roared with 'Laal Salaam'. The union appealed to all the students to gather at the protest site for the celebrations.
