NEW DELHI – Senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Digvijaya Singh raised a high-decibel alarm on Wednesday regarding the “systematic undermining” of social justice at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). During the Zero Hour of the Budget session, Singh cited a sharp 25% decline in SC/ST student enrolment, labeling it a departure from the university’s founding principles.
Key Allegations Raised:
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Erosion of Diversity: Singh pointed to a significant drop in the representation of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, suggesting that JNU is drifting from its mandate of inclusivity and national integration.
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Faculty Promotion Backlog: The MP flagged 89 pending faculty promotion cases at the university. Crucially, he noted that 62 of these have exceeded the stipulated processing timeframe, hindering career progression and reducing the institution’s PhD supervision capacity.
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Reserved Appointment Irregularities: Allegations were made regarding inconsistencies in filling faculty positions under reserved categories, which Singh argued further marginalizes underrepresented communities.
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Criticism of Leadership: Singh took aim at recent remarks by the Vice-Chancellor, claiming they are “at odds” with the democratic values the institution was built upon.
Political Context
In a pointed remark directed at the government, Singh noted the irony that while two eminent JNU alumni currently sit on the Treasury Benches, the institution—consistently ranked among India’s top 10—is allegedly failing its social justice mandate.
The Congress leader demanded immediate intervention to address the administrative delays and restore the university’s commitment to equitable education.
