Jawaharlal Nehru University has slapped a hefty fine, ranging from Rs 6000 to Rs 10,000, on four of its students on Wednesday, 8 November, for having cooked biryani outside the administrative block of the campus in June.
A proctorial enquiry has called the act “serious in nature” and one that’s “unbecoming of a JNU student”. Office order issued by the Chief Proctor, Kaushal Kumar, dated 8 November, states that they have been punished under the clause of "Any other act which may be considered by the Vice-Chancellor or any other competent authority to be an act of violation of discipline and conduct by the JNU statutes.”
Earlier, the JNU administration as well as the Delhi High Court had banned protests within 100 metres of the Administrative Block. On 27 June, the then students’ union president Mohit Kumar Pandey and General Secretary Mr Chakraborty went to the VC’s office to put forth a few students’ issues and refused to leave till the VC heard them out.
This is not the first time that the administration is wrongfully targeting students. They do this all the time.Dipshita, JNU Student
They later allegedly prepared and distributed biryani to other students in protest. Three other students – Chepal Sherpa, Amir Malik and Manish Kumar – have been fined Rs 6,000 each. The students have been given a deadline of 10 days to pay the fine and have been warned to not indulge in such activities in future, failing which more stringent action will be taken.
Slamming certain media organisations who added a ‘beef’ angle to the incident, JNU student Umar Khalid said:
Gargi Adhikari, JNU DSF President also feels that the media is spreading lies and that they are spreading rumours against students polarising the public opinion. “Real issues of JNU are getting sidelined like seat cuts, killing of the gender sensitisation committee, etc,” said Gargi.
(With inputs from The Hindu and Indian Express)
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