JNU does U-turn on notice warning Rs 20,000 fine for dharnas, Rs 50k for ‘intimidation

The Indian Express reached out to the JNU Registrar, Rector, Dean of Examination and Chief Proctor for comment but received no response.

Before the notification was withdrawn, the JNU rector had said he is not aware of these rules.

Brahma Prakash Singh, Assistant Professor, School of Arts and Aesthetics and EC member, alleged: “The detailed rules that the university brought yesterday was never placed before the EC…”

Modifying its disciplinary rules, the university had issued a notification Tuesday listing a range of activities under the ‘Rules of Discipline and Proper Conduct of Students of JNU’ that could attract heavy fines (from a minimum of Rs 5,000 to Rs 50,000) and or lead to rustication of the student. The rules were approved by JNU’s executive council.

As per the now withdrawn rules, hunger strikes, dharnas, group bargaining and any other form of protest by blocking entrance or exit of any of the academic or administrative complexes or disrupting movements of any member of the university community could attract a fine of Rs 20,000.

“Any intimidation of or insulting behaviours (physical violence/ abuse/ manhandling) towards a student, staff or faculty or any other person… engaging in any attempt at wrongful confinement of any member of faculty, staff or student or any camping inside campus” could attract a fine of Rs 50,000 and/or rustication, the rules had said.

It had further said, “Gheraos, laying siege or staging demonstrations around residence of any member of the university community or any other form of coercion, intimidation or disturbance of right to privacy of the residents of the campus will result in a fine of Rs 20,000, cancellation of admission or withdrawal of degree… expulsion, rustication up to four semesters, one semester eviction from the hostel, etc.”

JNUSU had called for a protest on Friday against the rules. Satish Chandra Yadav, JNUSU general secretary, said: “If the rules are withdrawn and stay that way, there are high chances that we withdraw the protest too.”

Before the rules were withdrawn, Yadav had told The Indian Express earlier in the day: “Looking at the new code of conduct by the JNU administration, all students are disappointed in Madam Vice-Chancellor. We had a lot of expectations from her, she is a JNU alumna and she understands the environment of JNU…”

JNU ABVP secretary Vikas Patel had also demanded a rollback of the new rules: “Instead of focusing on improvement of safety, security, the JNU admin has imposed this draconian code of conduct…”