New Delhi

Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Wednesday alleged in the Rajya Sabha that Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) is falling short of its social justice mandate, citing a reported 25 per cent decline in SC/ST student enrolment over the past three years.

Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Singh said the development was concerning for an institution historically associated with inclusivity, national integration and democratic values. He pointed out that JNU continues to rank among the top universities under the National Institutional Ranking Framework.

The Congress leader also referred to remarks attributed to the university’s Vice-Chancellor, who reportedly described assertions by marginalised communities as “permanent victimhood,” saying such statements raise questions about the institution’s sensitivity to caste discrimination and constitutional values.

Citing a report by the JNU Teachers Association, Singh said enrolment of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe students has seen a significant decline. He also raised concerns over faculty recruitment, noting that more than 40 per cent of 326 advertised posts were marked as “not found suitable,” with a majority of these being reserved positions.

Additionally, Singh highlighted delays in faculty promotions, stating that 89 cases are pending, with 62 exceeding the stipulated processing period. He said such delays impact academic functioning, including PhD supervision.

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Calling for corrective measures, Singh urged the government to ensure strict adherence to reservation norms and uphold the constitutional commitment to social justice in JNU and other central universities.