The Delhi High Court has asked the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) to consider afresh the representation of six hostel wardens against their termination by the university administration and pass a reasoned order. The wardens contended that multiple appeals by them, individual as well as collective, were not responded to by the JNU Vice-Chancellor and other relevant authorities, forcing them to approach the High Court. RTI queries In a press statement, the six wardens said, “The issue first came to light when JNU V-C M. Jagadesh Kumar unilaterally decided to remove a large number of wardens from their posts and replace them with new faculty appointees made during his term.” Termination of wardens can only be done on the basis of non-performance, as recommended by the Provost of the area under which the said hostel falls. The wardens claimed that they have found, through RTI queries, that as of April 17, 2018, there did not exist any such recommendation for wardens who have been removed by the V-C. ‘Biased move’ “The petitioners are challenging this vindictive and biased move of the current V-C,” it said, adding, “Quite apart from procedural lapses committed by the JNU administration, there are clear political motives.” The wardens said that “never before in the history of this university have 50 of 69 wardens been replaced under a single V-C’s term”. Tenure of the remaining 19 wardens has been renewed but no explanation was provided for this differential treatment of otherwise similarly placed faculty members, the six wardens added. “The administration has reduced the office of the warden to political patronage,” the six wardens said, claiming that replacing such a large number of wardens was a clear attempt to fill residential spaces with compliant wardens who will follow the diktats of the administration. ‘Compliant wardens’ “Issues like hostel fee hike, hostel timings, privacy of residents, etc.. have been points of contention between the current administration and the university community, and compliant wardens may only further their agenda,” they contended. None of the six wardens are being given equivalent housing facility. This, they claimed, has uprooted them and their families from the community that they have built and invested in.

Stay updated with all the Delhi Latest News headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.