JNU debars 2 candidates who alleged irregularities in hiring

New Delhi: The Jawaharlal Nehru University has debarred two candidates from applying for appointment for five years after they filed complaints against each other of being ineligible for the post and alleged irregularities in the recruitment process.

They had sought appointment as professors at the Centre for Indo-Pacific studies under School of International Studies.

A woman complainant, listed second by the selection committee, had in September 2015 alleged that the selected candidate's experience does not match with requirements advertised for the post. She had also accused the candidate of plagiarism in his published papers, on the basis of which he had applied to the university.

Based on the complaint, the university had constituted an enquiry committee in November 2015. However, the male candidate filed a counter complaint of plagiarism against her.

The university, at its Executive Council (EC) meeting held last week, decided to bar both the candidates for five years from applying for any position in the university. However, the charges have not been specified.

"I had raised my objections to the selection process. A committee was constituted and now I have been debarred from applying for five years. Not even once I have been told what charges have been levelled against me.

"The committee has not heard me. I have not been provided any documents despite my repeated requests and I have been debarred for five years just because I objected to the irregularities," said the female candidate, who is also an alumni of JNU.

While a senior university official confirmed the development, he refused to comment on the specific charges due to which the candidates have been debarred and the findings of the enquiry committee.

Calls and text messages to JNU Vice Chancellor Jagadesh Kumar and the male candidate, went unanswered.

JNU is currently caught in a row over an event on campus against the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru during which anti-national slogans were allegedly raised. The students, who are under the scanner for alleged violation of discipline norms have also raised questions about the university's enquiry process.