Last Updated:
Several JNU students, faculty and scholars raised concerns about the referendum, saying it lacked legal validity, independent oversight and a clear mandate from students.
The JNUSU ballot asked students to mark either “yes” or “no” on the question of the VC’s removal. (File Photo)
On Tuesday, the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU) organised a campus-wide referendum seeking students’ opinion on whether Vice Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit should be removed from office. Voting took place at 16 booths across the campus, with former members of the JNU Teachers’ Association (JNUTA) present during the exercise.
Under the guidelines issued by the student union, the ballot asked students to mark either “yes” or “no” on the question of the vice chancellor’s removal. Former JNUSU president Nitish Kumar told PTI that nearly 3,000 students participated in the voting, describing the turnout as an indication that students wanted to express their views on the university’s leadership.
Students Reject Referendum
However, the initiative also faced resistance from sections of the student community, many of whom rejected the referendum and questioned its legitimacy. Several students chose not to participate, arguing that the exercise lacked transparency and did not represent the broader student body.
The move was further criticised by a group of researchers and faculty members, who accused JNUSU of using student activism for political purposes. They alleged that the referendum, along with incidents such as the reported vandalism at the Dr B.R. Ambedkar Central Library, reflected a pattern of political manoeuvring rather than constructive engagement.
Legitimacy of Referendum Questioned
Many students, faculty and scholars raised concerns about the March 10 referendum, saying it lacked legal validity, independent oversight and a clear mandate from students. They argued that the exercise reflected a broader pattern in which the student union prioritised symbolic political actions over substantive advocacy while avoiding accountability.
The critics said their response was not intended as support for the administration but as a legal, philosophical and ethical challenge to the student union. They urged JNUSU to publicly address these concerns before claiming to represent the university community.
They also questioned the use of the term “referendum.” Political scientists David Butler and Austin Ranney, in their book Referendums Around the World (1994), argue that referendums are traditionally used for constitutional or major policy decisions rather than to remove appointed officials. On this basis, critics said the attempt to use a referendum to seek the removal of an individual office-bearer was unprecedented in established democratic practice.
March 11, 2026, 13:06 IST
Read More
