Pressure intensified on Jawaharlal Nehru University Vice-Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit after parliamentarians, teachers, academics and students demanded her removal over alleged irregularities in faculty recruitment and wider questions about university governance.
The demand was raised at a press conference organised by the JNU Teachers' Association and JNU Students' Union at the Press Club of India in New Delhi on Thursday. Speakers called for an independent, time-bound investigation into appointments made during Pandit's tenure, which began in February 2022.
Rajya Sabha members Sanjay Singh, John Brittas and V Sivadasan were among those present. Other participants included former Federation of Central Universities Teachers' Associations president Nandita Narain, former Delhi University professor Laxman Yadav, JNUSU president Aditi Mishra, AISA national president Neha and academics and student representatives. A charter of demands was handed to parliamentarians with a request that the allegations be raised in Parliament.
The dispute centres on allegations that candidates who initially failed to satisfy mandatory University Grants Commission eligibility requirements were subsequently returned to faculty shortlists and appointed. An investigation based on applications, committee observations, meeting records and dissent notes identified at least seven appointments — five associate professors and two professors — that were alleged to have breached UGC regulations.
The allegations focus particularly on the role of JNU's Internal Quality Assurance Cell. Subject-expert screening committees had rejected some applicants, but the candidates were later restored to consideration after their credentials were reassessed. Shortlists were allegedly expanded in at least seven cases. JNUTA argues that the IQAC does not possess statutory authority to overturn screening decisions independently.
UGC regulations governing recruitment of associate professors require, among other conditions, a relevant PhD, at least eight years of qualifying teaching or research experience and prescribed academic publications. The UGC had also told JNU in a 2022 recruitment case that the minimum qualification provisions were mandatory and could not be disregarded.
JNUTA said it had questioned the university's registrar and IQAC director P R Kumaraswamy in May about recruitment procedures and Career Advancement Scheme cases but had not received responses it said were promised. The association demanded an audit of faculty appointments undertaken since February 2022 and preservation of physical and electronic records connected with recruitment and promotions.
The organisations also sought the removal of Kumaraswamy from recruitment-related responsibilities while any inquiry proceeds. They want screening committee proceedings, shortlists and appointment documents disclosed publicly and have asked for action against officials found responsible for violations.
Allegations raised at the conference extended beyond teaching posts. Participants referred to non-teaching recruitment and contractual arrangements, including claims involving security workers. Nearly 370 guards had previously complained that they were asked to pay Rs 40,000 each following a change of contractor, an allegation now being cited as part of the demand for scrutiny of university administration.
The university administration rejected the accusations, describing them as part of a politically motivated campaign based on selective interpretations of UGC regulations and university procedures. It maintained that recruitment was conducted through a fair process involving multi-member selection committees, domain experts, the Visitor's nominee, deans and the vice-chancellor.
The administration also disputed claims that the IQAC controlled final appointments. It said the body verifies qualifications and publication claims but does not decide who is selected at interview. JNU said more than 400 interviews had been conducted and more than 200 positions filled since February 2022, adding that no candidate had complained about the interview process.
The confrontation adds to an extended dispute between Pandit's administration and sections of JNU's teachers and students. JNUTA has written four times to the university's Visitor, President Droupadi Murmu, between September 2025 and April 2026 seeking intervention and Pandit's removal. Its April communication alleged abuse of power, recruitment problems and erosion of institutional decision-making.
The teachers' association has separately criticised the handling of reserved faculty vacancies and decision-making by the Executive Council. It has argued that excessive concentration of authority in the vice-chancellor's office has weakened deliberation over appointments, promotions and academic policy. The administration has consistently rejected accusations that recruitment decisions were improperly controlled.
