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In a letter to Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, JNUTA questioned the Ministry and Central Government’s stance on the VC’s comments and the detention of protesting students.
JNUTA highlighted the government’s inaction following the violent suppression and detention of students who peacefully protested the VC’s remarks. (Image: News18 Hindi)
The Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers’ Association (JNUTA) on Thursday called for the removal of Vice-Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit due to her controversial remarks on a podcast that dismissed UGC regulations and allegedly contained casteist undertones.
In a letter to Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, JNUTA questioned the Ministry and Central Government’s stance on the VC’s comments and the detention of protesting students, reported ANI. They also raised concerns about the VC’s political connections with the Union government, suggesting these ties influenced her appointment.
JNUTA highlighted the government’s inaction following the violent suppression and detention of students who peacefully protested the VC’s remarks. They argued that this contradicts the government’s commitment to justice and casts doubt on its seriousness about addressing caste discrimination.
Demanding the VC’s immediate removal, JNUTA cited multiple instances of her “mis-governance” and noted that similar demands had been made three times in 2025 alone. They accused the government of implicitly endorsing the VC’s casteist views by not acting against her.
The association pointed out the VC’s misuse of the ‘None Found Suitable’ (NFS) provision to obstruct faculty appointments for reserved positions, discriminatory promotion practices, and the declining representation of women and SC/ST categories in the student body.
Criticising the VC’s false claims about the secrecy of the UGC Equity Regulations and the proportion of women faculty, JNUTA emphasised that these can be easily disproven with available data. They deemed the VC unfit to lead an institution known for academic excellence and social equity, stressing that the Ministry’s reputation is also at stake.
JNUTA urged the Education Ministry to take prompt action, asserting that the VC’s continuation is unacceptable and detrimental to the university’s reputation. They emphasised that the need for such regulations is undeniable and refuted the VC’s analysis as condemnable, urging the Ministry to act decisively.
What Happened So Far?
The Vice Chancellor’s statement, made in a podcast released on February 16, sparked controversy. Discussing the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) Equity (Anti-Discrimination) Rules of 2026, which aim to prevent caste-based discrimination in higher educational institutions, she described the regulations as “unnecessary and irrational.” She commented that “it’s not easy to move forward by demonising someone or constantly portraying yourself as a victim. It’s like a temporary addiction.” This statement quickly stirred a reaction on social media.
As the controversy grew, the VC clarified that her statement had been misrepresented. She insisted she did not mean to imply that the Dalit community always plays the victim card, but rather that some people use such language as part of a “woke” ideology. She stated that the controversy was unnecessary and that care had not been taken in formulating the rules, adding, “I myself am a Bahujan.”
The Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU) labelled the Vice Chancellor’s remarks as “blatantly casteist” and demanded her resignation. They argued that such statements promote caste discrimination and inequality in universities.
The atmosphere on the JNU campus has since become tense, with student organisations insisting that protests will continue until the Vice Chancellor apologises or resigns. As many as 14 JNU students, arrested during a protest march last week, have recently been released after a Delhi court ordered their immediate release. Among those released are JNUSU president Aditi Mishra, vice president Gopika K Babu, joint secretary Danish Ali, former JNUSU president Nitish Kumar, and AISA All India president Neha, among others.
The court granted bail to the protesters on February 27, noting that while assaulting police personnel is a serious offence, the accused are students with their careers ahead of them.
March 06, 2026, 11:45 IST
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