New Delhi, Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers’ Association wrote an open letter to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Thursday seeking clarification on the Centre’s stand regarding the allegedly controversial statements on caste made by JNU Vice-Chancellor Santyshree Dhulipudi Pandit.
The teachers’ body said that the university vice president’s comments, which he made during a widely circulated audio broadcast online, were “shocking” and required a response from the Ministry of Education.
In the letter addressed to the Union Education Minister, JNUTA said the remarks created the impression that the Center shared or supported her views, especially since Pandit had apparently indicated her political alliance with the ruling party while discussing her appointment.
The association reiterated its demand for Pandit’s removal from the post of vice-chancellor, noting that it had earlier made similar representations.
“JNUTA has made this request in three successive representations to the honorable visitor on September 1 and November 21, 2025… We have also highlighted that the undermining and violation of social and gender justice was one of the important dimensions of the mismanagement of JNU under the leadership of Professor Santyshree Dhulipudi Pandit which was characterized by centralization of power and pick and choose policy,” the letter said.
JNUTA also criticized what it called the Education Ministry’s silence on the issue, comparing it to police action taken earlier when JNU students tried to march to the ministry on February 26.
According to the teachers’ body, the non-response has raised questions about the Union government’s commitment to tackling caste discrimination in higher education institutions.
In its letter, the association raised concerns over alleged misuse of ‘nothing found suitable’ clause in appointment of faculty to reserved posts, ‘discrimination’ in promotions, and alleged under-representation of women and students from Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe categories.
It claimed that the VC’s statements in the podcast, where she allegedly described caste discrimination as an “artificial reality” linked to a “perpetual victim” mentality, were not only inconsistent with her management approach but added a “new and disturbing dimension” to it.
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