Delhi: Jamia university revokes suspension of students involved in ‘CAA-NRC Remembrance Day’ protests — with separate conditions

On February 12, the varsity imposed indefinite suspension and a campus ban on 17 students who were protesting against administrative actions, including showcause notices issued to two PhD students for allegedly sloganeering “without permission or intimation to university authorities” during a “CAA-NRC Remembrance Day” event last December.

On March 12, two students — Niranjan K S and Saurabh Tripathi — were issued orders by the varsity stating that the disciplinary committee, in a meeting on February 25, has recommended revocation of their suspension subject to them paying a fine of Rs 3,000 and Rs 5,000 respectively, along with submitting a ‘bond of good conduct within seven working days’.

Niranjan, a BA LLB student at the Faculty of Law at JMI, moved the HC on March 10 seeking the court’s relief in staying the suspension order against him. On Monday, his counsel, Manik Gupta, informed Justice Vikas Mahajan that his grievance insofar as suspension now stands redressed as he has been allowed to attend classes now. The only surviving grievance, Gupta said, is the imposition of a fine of Rs 3,000 in the order issued by the varsity in relation to his involvement in the December 2024 protest.

The court, on Monday, permitted Niranjan to withdraw his petition with liberty to approach the competent authority at JMI against the imposition of the fine.

Saurabh Tripathi, a PhD scholar at the Department of Hindi in the Faculty of Humanities and Languages of the varsity, was among the seven who moved the HC on March 4. He is also the only one among the seven asked to submit the ‘good conduct bond’. Tripathi also faced disciplinary proceedings owing to his participation in the December 2024 gathering.

On March 4, the HC had temporarily stayed orders of suspension issued by JMI. The court had also directed that a “committee of officials under the supervision of the Vice-Chancellor be constituted” and that a “representative from the students may also be taken by the Vice-Chancellor in such a committee”.

A disciplinary committee meeting on March 4 for those facing suspension from the university owing to the February protest, and a disciplinary committee meeting on February 25 for those involved in the CAA-NRC Remembrance Day gathering in December 2024, recommended the revocation of the suspension of the 10 students.

In orders issued on March 12 to the 10 students, and signed by chief proctor Naved Jamal, it was stated that considering the committee’s recommendation, “the competent authority, JMI, under the power vested in him as per the statute 31 of the JMI Act, has decided to revoke the suspension order”.

However, the revocation of suspension came with a caveat — the students were instructed to resume their academic activities “with strict commitment to uphold University Rules and regulations by submitting the Bond of Good Conduct within seven working days from the receipt of this notice.”

JMI’s ‘Bond of Good Conduct’ stipulates that its violation “shall invite… strict disciplinary action” including “expulsion/rustication”, and that the student undertakes to “bind myself to be of good behaviour to Jamia Millia Islamia and its all authorities/ teachers/staff/students and visitors.”

At present, JMI requires prior permission from the varsity authorities for organising a protest or a gathering.

The varsity’s order of March 5, issued to the seven students, further stated: “… these students are advised not to engage in any protests/dharna without proper permission. They are also instructed not to block any roads, gates or buildings etc, as such actions may disrupt the normal functioning of the University.”

In a statement last month, JMI had stated that protests had disrupted academic activities and resulted in property damage, including vandalising the central canteen and breaking the gate of the security advisor’s office.