M S Agwani (V-C from Oct 7, 1987 to Oct 6, 1992) The government should not intervene in matters which can be best handled by the vice-chancellor and the executive council. If something wrong has happened, it is for the university to initiate disciplinary action against students. The government’s intervention will only make matters worse. The university is not above the law, but police should only be allowed on campus when there is violence or a breakdown of law and order. But if it’s just a case of sloganeering, then the university is equipped to handle it. As far as I can recall, this kind of interference in JNU’s affairs was only seen at the time of Emergency. During my term as V-C, there were many demonstrations, but we were careful in dealing with the students. Y K Alagh (V-C from Dec 14, 1992 to Jun 28, 1996) When I was the V-C, the students used to push me (to the edge) sometimes. I remember one time they stopped us from holding a meeting of the academic council and I was advised by a colleague to call the police. I said no. I went on hunger strike and refused to relent unless the students allowed us to hold the meeting. There was no question of calling the police. I think one has to be very careful in dealing with students. Young people are idealistic and hold a different view of the world. This doesn’t mean they are anti-national or guilty of sedition. I wouldn’t be surprised if Umar Khalid sits for the UPSC exam and makes it as a government officer. Invoking sedition is a very short-sighted approach. These students should be called for a discussion. I don’t think JNU is a hub of anti-national activities. If JNU was anti-national, it wouldn’t be producing so many IAS officers. [related-post] Asis Datta (V-C from Jun 29, 1996 to Apr 30, 2002) In my opinion, any matter of indiscipline can be resolved internally by the university. Students can be called for a discussion and counselled. Police presence on campus was completely avoidable. As far as sedition charges are concerned, it’s now for the courts to take a final call. But if you ask me, I don’t think they (students) have committed a crime. During my time as V-C, there were many protests. Not once did I feel the need to call police. B B Bhattacharya (V-C from Jun 29, 2005 to Jan 27, 2011) I don’t want to comment on what the current V-C has or hasn’t done since he is new to the university. If I were in the same situation, I would have handled it myself and not permitted police to enter the premises. That doesn’t mean the students guilty of indiscipline would have gone scot free. I would have initiated disciplinary action against them. There were protests against me when I was the V-C. That was when I had suspended all the JNUSU office-bearers for supporting indiscipline. The students sat on a 10-day hunger strike near the administration building. I had a doctor on stand-by. I could have sought the police’s help to evict them but I didn’t. I, fortunately, always had the confidence that I could convince the students. S K Sopory (V-C from Jan 28, 2011 to Jan 27, 2016) I don’t wish to comment on the current matter as I am not familiar with the details of the case.
