Asking us to submit CV similar to withdrawing Nobel: Former JNU VC on emeritus row

The JNU's exercise to call for CVs of professors emeriti is similar to "withdrawing" Nobel of a recipient, if he or she is thought to be not doing enough good work a decade or two later, the varsity's former vice-chancellor Asis Datta said on Friday.

Datta is among the 12 professors emeriti who have been asked by the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) administration to submit their CVs for evaluation, a move that has drawn criticism from several quarters, including the varsity's teachers' association.

In a statement, Datta, who has served the university for many decades rising to be its rector and then vice chancellor, said with his position as Professor Emeritus, he claims nothing from the university.

He said he has no office at JNU and gets no remuneration from the university.

Datta has also mentioned this in a July 22 reply after varsity's registrar asked for CVs , according to the statement.

"I visit the university to interact with the faculty and students, and to discuss science which has been my life long quest," Datta said.

He said his work involves being in close contact with the best scientists of the world, including Nobel laureates and the universities they belonged to.

The former JNU VC said so far, he has not come across a situation where scientists who were given an honour have been asked to continuously provide proof that they can retain it