JNU Vice-Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Absent from Education Ministry's Vice-Chancellors' Conference Without Permission. The Ministry has taken this seriously and sought a response from her. There has been no response from her so far.
JNU VC Notice: Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) Vice-Chancellor Professor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit is in the news again. The Ministry of Education has sought an explanation from her regarding her absence, without prior permission, from the conference of Vice-Chancellors of Central Universities held in Kevadia, Gujarat. The ministry has sent an official notice, considering it a serious violation.
Absence from the Conference Considered a Serious Matter
According to sources in the Ministry of Education, this two-day conference of Vice-Chancellors of Central Universities was held on July 10 and 11, 2025. The main objective of the conference was to review the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 in higher education on the occasion of its fifth anniversary and to brainstorm on future strategies.
According to the ministry, all Vice-Chancellors were sent a prior invitation to attend the event, and attendance was mandatory. In this regard, if any Vice-Chancellor is unable to attend due to any reason, they must formally seek permission. However, the JNU Vice-Chancellor did not attend the conference without any prior notice.
JNU Had an Event on the Same Date
Sources also said that an event was also organized at JNU during the conference. However, the Ministry is of the clear opinion that when a high-level meeting is being organized at the national level by the Ministry of Education, its priority should be paramount. In such a situation, the Vice-Chancellor's decision raises questions about her priorities.
Importance of the Vice-Chancellors' Conference
The conference held in Kevadia, Gujarat, was very important in the direction of implementing NEP 2020 in the field of higher education. Vice-Chancellors of Central Universities from across the country participated in it. During the conference, institutional progress, quality improvement, innovation, skill development, and digital education were discussed in detail. Also, it was seen to what extent universities are working in accordance with the National Education Policy.
Ministry Expressed Displeasure
The Ministry of Education has issued a notice to Vice-Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi to know the specific reason for her absence. So far, no official reaction has come from the Vice-Chancellor. Ministry officials say that further action will be decided only after the reply is received. If the reply is not satisfactory, disciplinary action cannot be ruled out.
