Reform, rupture or repetition: JNU under Santishree Pandit
Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has experienced significant internal turmoil under Vice-Chancellor Santishree Pandit, marked by the dissolution of the student union and increased surveillance. Despite these controversies, the university has maintained high national rankings and continued its academic operations.
Why it matters
The tension between administrative control and student activism at major universities reflects broader debates regarding academic freedom and campus governance.
One night in November 2025, a scuffle broke out at the Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Central Library of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) over facial recognition entry gates, which students viewed as a tool for surveillance. By February 2, 2026, JNU administration had rusticated all four elected office-bearers of the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union (JNUSU) from the university.
President Aditi Mishra, Vice President Gopika K. Babu, General Secretary Sunil Yadav, Joint Secretary Danish Ali and former union president Nitish Kumar were each rusticated for two semesters, fined ₹20,000 each and declared out of bounds from the entire campus. This marked the first time in JNU’s history that an administrative order dissolved an entire elected union.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in