Delayed Promotions at JNU Ignite Faculty Protests and Parliamentary Discussion

At Jawaharlal Nehru University, 89 faculty members await overdue promotions under the Career Advancement Scheme. The delays, attributed to incomplete applications and other administrative issues, have sparked protests by the JNU Teachers' Association. The matter has drawn attention in Parliament, highlighting wider concerns about university governance.

In a pressing development at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), 89 faculty members have been left in limbo waiting for overdue promotions under the Career Advancement Scheme (CAS). Of these, an unsettling 62 cases have surpassed the designated processing timeframe, as disclosed by the Ministry of Education in Parliament.

Minister of State for Education Dr Sukanta Majumdar revealed the situation in response to a query from Rajya Sabha MP Manoj Kumar Jha. The Ministry cited several reasons for the backlog, including incomplete application submissions, unverified peer-reviewed publications, and unavailable committee members, particularly external experts.

The delay in processing these promotions has sparked protests from the JNU Teachers' Association (JNUTA), which staged a hunger strike to express dissent. Allegations of arbitrary rejections and selective delays have been leveled against the JNU administration. The issue underscores deep-rooted concerns about faculty treatment and university operations, as discussions reach the floor of Parliament.

(With inputs from agencies.)