Students claim JNU provosts’ backing

NEW DELHI: The tussle in Jawaharlal Nehru University over the new hostel manual took a new turn when during a meeting, hostel students with three hostel provosts allegedly signed a document to reject the new hostel manual and two provosts allegedly resigned from their posts.
A provost manages multiple hostels and the affairs with the hostel wardens. However, the provosts alleged that they were forced by the students to either oppose the new hostel manual or resign from their posts.
The JNU VC, in view of the week-long protest and strike called by student groups last week, had announced that on Wednesday, the provosts will invite the hostel presidents for a meeting and discuss their issues. “We appeal to the students to resume their academic activities. Issues can be resolved through dialogue,” the VC had said.
The manual had brought in major changes in the hostel policy — from an increase in mess fees, room rent, security deposit, to hostel timings, etc.
However, the students assembled at the hostel meetings and deliberated with the provosts. Later, of the five provosts, three allegedly signed to reject the hostel manual.
However, the provosts alleged that they were forced to sign the documents. Shakti Kumar, provost of Paschimabad-2, said, “I was forced to sign it when a huge crowd entered the meeting venue. I have conveyed to the VC that I didn’t do it willingly.”
Another provost, Bhaswati Das of Dakshinapuram, claimed that a crowd of 200 students had assembled at her residence and office and forced her to sign it. TOI tried to contact other provosts who had resigned but got no response .
JNUSU said, “If the provosts cannot reject the manual, it is perfectly reasonable to ask them to tender their resignation as they are not able to stand up for the interests of their own students.”
In a notice to the students, the JNU administration denied that any of the provosts resigned or rejected the hostel manual. The administration stated that students blackmailed, shouted offensive slogans to make the provosts resign.