New Delhi, March 6 (IANS): The Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers Association (JNUTA) on Friday shot off a letter to the Secretary, Ministry of Human Resource Development demanding an inquiry into the "drastic reduction in positions reserved for SCs and STs in JNU".

The teachers' association has also demanded action against the university administration and the Vice Chancellor for "the grave default".

In the letter, the JNUTA has claimed that there should have been at least 85 unfilled positions reserved for SCs and STs, but in fresh advertisements that JNU administration has taken out, there are 33 posts less that have been marked reserved for SCs and STs.

"The number of positions reserved for SCs and STs should have been in excess of the 85 unfilled positions carried over from the past. However, an examination of two advertisements shows that the total number of positions reserved for SCs and STs as 24 in the Professors cadre and 33 in the Associate Professors cadre - or 57 in all," JNUTA said.

"Of these, five positions are in the new schools which did not exist in 2017," the teachers' body further added.

Speaking to IANS the secretary of JNUTA, Surajit Mazumdar said, "There are at least 33 position less than what were earlier reserved for the SCs and STs. I won't comment on the motive behind this, but an inquiry is a must in the matter."

JNU administration is yet to issue any response on the allegations.