The Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU) has begun an indefinite hunger strike demanding the immediate resolution of a series of longstanding academic, infrastructural, social justice, welfare and democratic concerns affecting students across the university.
Despite repeated attempts to engage with the Dean of Students (DoS), the Vice Chancellor and other university authorities, the administration has failed to initiate a meaningful dialogue or take concrete action on these issues. It has been more than seven months since the rustication of JNUSU office bearers, including the former JNUSU President. The continued punitive action against elected student representatives has severely weakened the democratic mechanism through which students collectively raise their concerns before the university administration. The present situation requires an immediate institutional and political response. JNU’s infrastructure continues to deteriorate; the outsourcing of the entrance examination process has contributed to delays in admissions; GSCASH has been dismantled; the Equal Opportunity Cell remains ineffective; and students facing caste discrimination continue to lack an accessible and accountable institutional mechanism for redressal.
JNUSU demands the immediate resolution of the following:
- Democratic Rights and Accountability: Roll back the CPO Manual and revoke the rustication of JNUSU office bearers.
- Gender Justice: Reinstate GSCASH with an effective, independent and representative mechanism for addressing sexual harassment.
- Entrance Examination: Reinstate JNUEE and end the university’s complete dependence on outsourced agencies for the admission process.
- Essential Student Services: Ensure functional mess and Wi-Fi facilities in Barak Hostel.
- Campus Infrastructure: Undertake immediate renovation and upgradation of hostels; expand library seating capacity; ensure 24/7 functional lifts and essential facilities in Kaveri, Periyar and Godavari hostels; renovate Teflas; repair campus roads; comprehensively renovate the stadium; construct gender-neutral washrooms; reform the Health Centre; renovate KC OAT; and open a canteen in CSLG.
- Financial Relief and Transparency: Conduct an audit of mess bills; increase MCM scholarships and extend MCM eligibility to students of the School of Engineering; and decentralise the nodal officer system for the approval of JRF fellowships.
- Social Justice: Reform the Equal Opportunity Cell in accordance with the principles of the Rohith Act and institute an annual independent audit of its functioning.
- Accountability in Outsourcing: Remove Siddhanta Knowledge Foundation from university-related academic and administrative functions.
- Democratic Representation: Reinstate the JNUSU Fund and ensure meaningful student representation in academic and other relevant university councils and committees.
- Hostel Rights: Guarantee hostel accommodation to students until the submission of their PhD thesis, with strict and transparent adherence to reservation policies in hostel allotments.
- Recruitment and Administrative Accountability: Constitute an independent inquiry into alleged recruitment irregularities involving the IQAC and Kumaraswamy.
- Fee Parity: Bring the fee structures of the School of Engineering, MBA, Mahanadi Hostel and Married Hostels in line with standard JNU fee norms.
- Reservation and Inclusion: Implement reserved seats and ensure appropriate hostel accommodation and institutional provisions for transgender students.
JNUSU emphasizes that the health and safety of all students participating in the hunger strike must be respected. The university administration must ensure regular and adequate medical monitoring of all hunger strikers and maintain accurate records of their medical condition and treatment. Medical care must be provided with due respect for the autonomy, dignity and wishes of the individuals undertaking the hunger strike. The administration must not resort to coercion, intimidation or any other action that compromises the voluntary nature of the protest. JNUSU holds the university administration responsible for ensuring that appropriate medical facilities and regular medical monitoring are made available throughout the course of the indefinite hunger strike.
