Tensions escalated at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) following a clash between student groups aligned with the Left and Right, each accusing the other of violence during a protest march.
Pandit, who was appointed as the JNU VC in February last year, said some people opposed her decision to put the national flag and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's photo on the varsity premises.
Former prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh was shown black flags at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) by Left-backed students who were staging a protest during his visit to the campus in 2005. The incident led to show-cause notices to students by the university with few of them getting detained by the Delhi Police. However, a day later Dr Singh intervened, suggesting to the then vice chancellor (VC) B B Bhattacharya to be lenient with students.
Amid growing demands for his resignation, Kumar told the MHRD officials that efforts were being made to facilitate semester registration for 'willing' students.
A student rejected the allegation and said they were allegedly manhandled by the security personnel.
Chomsky along with 86 other academicians had last week condemned "the culture of authoritarian menace that the present government in India has generated".
The vice chancellor praised the valour of the Indian soldiers in the Kargil War and expressed his profound gratitude to the Indian Army.
For the year 2026, the President has approved the conferment of 131 Padma awards. The list comprises five Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan and 113 Padma Shri.
Late on Thursday, chief proctor Rajnish Kumar Mishra issued a notification saying the document on rules and discipline of JNU students is withdrawn, citing administrative reasons.
JNU vice chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar, whose tenure was marred by controversies, has been appointed as chairman of the University Grants Commission.
Pandit said history is 'his' story, but 'her' story "also has to come".
A day after her remarks during a lecture in which she had said that anthropologically Gods do not belong to the upper caste, Jawaharlal Nehru University Vice Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit said it is to the credit of Hinduism that great dissenters from Gautam Buddha to Dr B R Ambedkar are celebrated.
Talking about April 10 violence, she said that there are 17 hostels in the university and in 16 of those, everything went on peacefully with the iftar and the Ram Navami puja being organised together.
Students resolved to change their "method" of protest and resort to peaceful agitation till missing student Najeeb Ahmed is traced.
In a brief statement, Vice Chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar said, "Our heart goes out to all injured students. The incident (violence) is unfortunate. I would like to tell students that JNU campus is a secure place. "I urge all students to come back to the campus. Let us put the past behind."
The JNU VC said the "status of shudras given to women in Manusmriti" makes it extraordinarily regressive.
She has also demanded security from the JNU citing safety concerns, after her personal details were allegedly leaked by a university official.
The incident took place on Tuesday night and police have registered two cases based on complaints from students of the university.
Joshi's comments add to the growing clamour for Kumar's removal.
The varsity will send a proposal in this regard to the University Grants Commission and the ministry of education.
In the sting videos, the students are seen admitting that they were part of the violence outside the varsity's Sabarmati hostel.
Prof B B Bhattacharya says his forecasts are more 'judgemental' today, along the lines of the forecasts of other institutions including the RBI. Excerpts from a conversation with Sunil Jain.
In his letter to the vice-chancellor of JNU, Bhaduri expressed pain at throttling of dissent by the university administration. He alleged a 'deliberate attempt to throttle the free and lively atmosphere of debate and discussion'.
"The JNUSU rejects the punishment handed down by the administration on the basis of a farcical committee!" Kanhaiya tweeted.
The JNU administration's decision to ask historian Thapar to submit her CV for assessment for her continuation as professor emerita drew sharp criticism from various quarters.
"Kanhaiya was back on campus last night and due to his health condition doctors advised him to discontinue with the fast. He has been advised bed rest for few days and also has to undergo some medical tests. While he has withdrawn the fast, he will continue with the agitation," a statement from the JNU Students Union said.
Ahmed, an MSc student at JNU, went missing allegedly after a brawl with ABVP members.
The JNU administration on Monday said that no violence will be tolerated on campus and warned the students from getting involved in any incident which disturbs peace and harmony on campus.
Students, who are agitating over the alleged inaction of university in the case of missing student Najeeb Ahmed, have not allowed the vice chancellor and about 12 other officials to come out of the building since Wednesday afternoon.
With a breakthrough elusive, government sources said the Delhi Police has obtained vital leads.
The 59-year-old Pandit is also an alumna of JNU where she pursued her MPhil as well as PhD in International Relations.
A PhD student of Jawaharlal Nehru University was allegedly molested while walking on the campus around midnight on Monday, sparking a protest by students and bringing into the spotlight again the issue of security in the vast complex.
The administration had submitted photographic and videographic evidence in the matter.
Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit won't be afraid to tangle with the toughest of them.
The letter, written by the University Registrar to the deputy commissioner of police, South District, says the "VC grants to the police force permission to enter JNU campus if need be and as you may deem fit."
Professor Mustafa should take some inspiration from the prime minister and start advocating for a Pasmanda or a woman, preferably from outside UP/Hyderabad, to be appointed vice chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University this time. That should be a fitting tribute to the vision of the prime minister.
Kanhaiya also said there was no "tukde tukde" government before 2014
'We saw that a large number of people entered the campus and they started arbitrarily attacking teachers and students'
'Once our voices are crushed, they can bring in an agenda of privatisation.'
© 2026 Rediff.com - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances