Letters sent to 12 of 24 professors emeriti: JNU

NEW DELHI: As the controversy over Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) asking for CV from renowned historian Romila Thapar refuses to die down, the JNU administration on Monday clarified that it had sent letters to 12 of its 24 professors emeriti, including the varsity’s former vice-chancellor Asis Dutta. The registrar informed that some of them have already replied, and response from others was awaited. After all the replies are received, their CVs will be referred to a sub-committee constituted as per the JNU law.

The varsity administration's decision to ask Romila Thapar to submit her CV for assessment for her continuation as professor emerita has drawn criticism from various quarters.
JNU Teachers’ Association (JNUTA) has called it politically motivated. However, the university has clarified that it was done as per the Rule Number 32 (g), which says that all professors emeriti of over 75 years of age will have to go through a review from a committee constituted by the JNU Executive Council (EC). The teachers’ association says that the rule was recently added.
JNU had sent letters to prominent academicians, including H S Gill, C K Varshney, SD Muni, Ashok Sanjay Guha, R Rajaraman, Romila Thapar, Yogendra Singh, D Banerji, T K Oommen, Amit Bhaduri, Shiela Bhalla and Asis Datta.
JNU registrar Pramod Kumar told TOI: “We sent letters to all 12 as per the rules and regulations. The professors selected were those who had attained the age of 75 before March 31, 2019.”
He further added that reminders will be sent to all those who have not yet sent their replies. Kumar asserted that JNU was following practices of the international universities.
One of the recipients of the letter, R Rajaraman said that he has no issue with the letter. “I believe it's between the university and me. The professor emeritus is an honorary and dignified position, and there is no need to have this conversation.”