On Monday, members of the Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers’ Association (JNUTA) began a 24-hour hunger strike on campus to protest alleged delays in faculty promotions. Concurrently, the JNU Students Union (JNUSU) launched an indefinite hunger strike, demanding resolution of longstanding issues, including the revocation of proctorial inquiries against students.

More than a dozen JNUTA professors participated in the sit-in at the School of Languages lawn, displaying posters with slogans such as “Promoting the truth about promotion” and “Waiting for promotions.” They claimed that promotions under the University Grants Commission’s Career Advancement Scheme (CAS) have been selectively delayed since 2016, affecting over 130 faculty members.

The teachers are calling for the approval of delayed promotions, compensation for the years worked without promotions, and the recognition of the date of minimum eligibility as the promotion date.

Meanwhile, sixteen students, including JNUSU office bearers, are protesting to reopen the Barak hostel, increase merit-cum-means scholarships, and reinstate the gender sensitization committee against sexual harassment. They are also demanding the withdrawal of the Chief Proctor Office Manual, which imposes fines for protests in restricted areas.

The students allege that their Charter of Demands submitted to Vice-Chancellor Santishree D Pandit on April 12 has yet to receive a response.

Source: PTI

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