The Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in Delhi is seeing much backlash for coming out with a manual that bans protests on campus.
Students took this as a way to stifle the voices of protest and burb their right to speak out on topics that matter to them or if wrong things are happening around them.
But JNU authorities seeing the controversy getting big came out with a clarification that the rules in the manual were not new and had existed since long.
What Is The JNU Controversy?
The issue started when a revised Chief Proctor Office (CPO) was approved by the Executive Council (EC) of the institute on November 24.
The manual contained the “rules of discipline and proper conduct of students of Jawaharlal Nehru University” and listed out several things including a fine of Rs. 20,000 for putting up wall posters, and conducting dharnas within 100 metres of the institute’s academic buildings or even expulsion, and a fine of Rs. 10,000 for any “anti-national” act.
The CPO was shared by the JNU Students’ Union (JNUSU) on Monday where it listed out 28 types of misconducts that they claimed were unfair to the students.
The JNUSU speaking on the matter said “The stringent measures outlined in the manual are aimed at stifling the vibrant campus culture that has defined JNU for decades. The JNUSU demands that the university administration immediately revoke the new manual of the office of the Chief Proctor Manual.”
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JNU Clarifies
Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) authorities eventually clarified the misinterpretation of the notice after seeing all the backlash.
An official speaking with PTI stated “We have not changed anything. These rules were already there in place. We have just introduced a few other regulations to ensure no disruption is caused to the academic process. Students still have the democratic right to protest at designated places.”
JNU’s Vice-Chancellor Santishree Pandit also said “This is old not new. Passed unanimously by the EC last month as the manual had to be made legally sound. The fines are on the indiscipline of drinking, drugs and misbehavior in hostels and towards women. The proctor’s office since 1969 has been taking action, imposing fines and rustications.”
Speaking with The Indian Express, Pandit also said “I never punished any student for protesting nor will I ever punish them for that, rather I have saved them from the last regime and I have closed all cases from 2016 to 2022,” and how “We have only fine-tuned it (the rules) to keep with the Delhi High Court decisions… We have made it legally sound-proof. As the Chief Proctor’s office is a legal body, we just put it in legal language.”
About the Rs. 6,000 fine for holding parties on campus without permission, she said “There have been drugs and alcohol at freshers parties on campus. There was violence at a birthday party in Narmada hostel 9 months ago… To ensure situations like these don’t occur on campus, we have brought in these rules. Maintaining law and order on campus is my responsibility.”
Image Credits: Google Images
Feature image designed by Saudamini Seth
Sources: The Indian Express, Livemint, Firstpost
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