JNUTA calls one-day strike

The Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers' Association (JNUTA) today called a one-day strike against the policies implemented by the varsity's vice-chancellor, a statement said.

They said the strike was a huge success as majority of teachers as well as students joined the strike in support of demands of the teachers' association.

They also participated in a protest march around JNU campus during the day. The decision to lodge protest, as the new semester commences in the university, was taken by the General Body Meeting of the JNUTA that was held on July 24.

Teachers were carrying placards and wearing black badges expressing their resistance to the policy decisions of the present vice chancellor, it said.

The march was as the teachers of the university had been facing an "overbearing administration under the leadership of the current vice chancellor for over the last two years", it said.

"The academic environment in the university campus, which it was well known for, has been vitiated by an administration driven by the sole objective of mindless regimentation," the statement added.

The protest was against a multitude of changes like a loan proposal of over Rs 500 crore made by the university, the implications of autonomy thrust on the university, the statement added.

They also opposed the plans for (biometric) attendance for teachers, which were "passed" by the Academic Council, they added.