JNU protests continue over Prof Johri's dismissal, new attendance rules

Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) protests continue on Monday in favour of Professor Atul Johri's suspension, who allegedly sexually harassed female students, and also to discontinue the newly issued mandatory attendance rule.

At least nine women now have filed FIRs against Professor Atul Johri from the School of Life Sciences, accusing him of sexual harassment.

Twitter was trending for the last few days after JNU students started a #suspendJohri campaign, to protest against the professor.

The students later today plan to protest in front of Vasant Kunj Police station in regard to delay in investigation for the same.

The students have termed the suspension of the professor as important, because he continues to hold several academic and administrative posts and also that there is a possibility of his interference with the investigation yet to be conducted against him.

Moreover, students are also protesting against a circular issued by the university management in December 2017, which approved a mandatory 75 percent attendance for all courses.

The students, as a sign of protest, refused to sign attendance sheets.

The Executive Council, being the highest executive body, has taken a serious note of the defiance of some Chairpersons and a Dean, who refused to implement the attendance rule, and has decided to replace them with an Acting Chairpersons and an Acting Dean until the matter is investigated by a committee.

Previously on March 18, the agitations by a small section of students, at the Jawaharlal Nehru University, tacitly supported by some faculty members, have been causing enormous damage to academic and research activities in protest of these burning issues.