JNU management seeks controversy over 12 honorary professors, including historian Romila Thapar

The JNU teachers' union called the university management's move politically motivated

(PTI) New Delhi, Ta. September 2, 2019, Monday

The management of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has raised a controversy over the biodata of 12 professors working at the university. Historian Romila Thapar, scientist R.K. Rajaraman, who served as Emeritus Professor along with JNU's former VC Ashish Dutta, received a CV seeking information on his performance.

JNU Registrar Pramod Kumar said that the management of the university has sent a notice to send his biodata to all honorary professors whose age was 75 years before 31st March, 2019. As per the rule, this notice has been sent and the university has not taken anything inappropriate.

Disputes have arisen after this notice. Speculation was rife over anti-government professors. Of the 12 honorary professors who were given notice to send CVs, HS Gill, C.K. Annually, Sanjay Guha, JNU's former VC Ashish Dutta, noted historian Romila Thapar, renowned scientist R.K. Rajaraman, Yogendra Singh, D. Banerjee, T.K. Oman, Amit Bhadudi, and Sheila Bhalla.

The university said in reference to this notice that the notice was sent to review the work of the professors who are still working as honorary professors after retirement. Professor Emeritus is an honorary degree, awarded to a reputed scholar in a prestigious academic institution upon retirement.

The JNU teachers' union criticized the university's management. The university's attitude was seen as politically motivated. After the controversy, the Ministry of Human Resource Development made it clear that JNU did not send this notice to terminate the status of honorary professors, but had acted in accordance with the rules.