New Delhi:
JNU Vice Chancellor Jagadeesh M Kumar has been summoned to a meeting with the Secretary of the HRD Ministry at 11.30 am, following which the ministry is expected to meet with students in an attempt to broker peace between the two factions. The ministry's summons comes a day after it ruled out the Vice Chancellor's dismissal - a demand raised by sections of both students and faculty - following last week's mob attack. A senior ministry official quoted by news agency PTI yesterday said the government would instead focus on the issue at the heart of the unrest - the hike in hostel fees.
"We will talk to the university administration that the fees changes which were decided last month are implemented. We are working on resolving the issues and restoring normalcy. It is a prestigious university and should remain that way," Amit Khare, the HRD Secretary, was quoted as saying by PTI.
Mr Khare had earlier met a joint delegation of the JNU Students Union (JNUSU) and JNU Teachers Association (JNUTA) where they had petitioned for the sacking of Mr Kumar.
"Removing Vice Chancellor is not the solution. The basic issue on which the whole problem has arisen needs to be addressed first. Changing X, Y or Z is not as important as resolving issues that have come up... basic bone of contention needs to be resolved," he added.
Vice Chancellor Jagadeesh M Kumar has claimed "no deviation" from the fee hike formula agreed between JNU administration, students and the HRD Ministry last month.
"As far as the fee issue is concerned, there has been no deviation from the formula arrived at the HRD Ministry last month. As decided, students are not being charged any services or utility fees," Mr Kumar told PTI.
"We have also written to UGC to release funds for covering the utility and service charges as decided," he added.
JNU officials and students have been in a months-long stand-off over a hike in hostel fees.
The students union said the hike would make it impossible for students from economically weaker sections to attend one of India's most prestigious universities.
In response Union HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal said the hike had been ordered to meet increased expenditure on hostel maintenance.
The stand-off had led to clashes between protesting students and Delhi Police that spilled over into the streets of the national capital and forced the centre in to a "partial rollback" after meetings with the HRD Ministry in November.
Last week around 70 to 100 masked goons barged onto the JNU campus and went on an unchecked rampage that left 34 people injured, JNU officials released a statement alleging the violence had been perpetrated by students who had opposed the fee hike.
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