JNU students protest demanding JNUSU elections; Last elections in 2019

Students Across Centres and Schools observe University-Wide Strike Demanding Immediate Conduct of JNUSU Elections

Students across various centres and schools in Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) observed a University-wide Strike demanding the immediate conduct of JNUSU Election. The protesting students alleged that the administration is trying to dismantle the institution of JNUSU.

Students boycotted their class en masse and joined the protest gathering called by JNUSU at the SL-SIS Lawns.

The JNUSU elections were last held in 2019. Fresh JNUSU Elections have not been notified by the JNU Administration since then, initially citing the COVID-19 pandemic, but subsequently, on one pretext or another.

The JNUSU has alleged that while in the current semester, elections are being denied citing the need for PhD admissions, in the last semester, the JNU Admin refused to conduct the election despite the completion of the PhD admission process. It is a complete failure of the JNU Administration that they have failed to restore timely admissions for all JNU students to JNU.

JNU has still not announced a set date and deadline for PhD admissions. In Delhi University the elections for DUSU were held recently, however, JNU students are being deprived of the same right.

“By now, many elected representatives of the 2019 JNUSU are no longer students of the university, thereby leaving our student body without a duly elected representation. The JNU Administration has been refusing to invite the JNUSU in decision-making forums of the university (Academic Council, Board of Studies, Inter-Hostel Administration), thus denying a say to the student community in university matters and escaping accountability for undemocratic and anti-student decisions. The absence of elections has posed a significant challenge to the principles of transparency, accountability, and democratic engagement, which are foundational to JNU's ethos,” it stated in a statement.

On the 10th of October, the JNU VC and the DoS suddenty called the JNUSU for a meeting to discuss the conduct of JNUSU elections. The student’s union has alleged that the same VC and JNU Administration which in its numerous press statements has categorically stated that they do not recognize the JNUSU.

The JNUSU will get into discussion with All Organizations, SFCs and Hostel Presidents to decide upon the further course of action in the struggle for the conduct of JNUSU elections with an autonomous student Election Committee.

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