JNU lodges FIR against students for blocking access to admin block

Varsity has sought police assistance; Delhi High Court has refused to issue any direction

Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) on Monday told the Delhi High Court that it has lodged an FIR against students who have been blocking access to the varsity's administrative block.

The varsity, however, said its officials would need police assistance to enter the administrative block and sought such a relief from Justice V K Rao, who is hearing the pleas of several JNU students seeking copies of their mark sheets and certificates to pursue further studies or apply for jobs.

The court refused to issue any such direction, saying the varsity has to seek its own remedies.

"Only for providing mark sheets you need police? I do not understand this. The university has to take an appropriate remedy. It must take an appropriate remedy," the judge said while adding that students will, otherwise, keep approaching the court for relief.

It asked JNU to provide, to the petitioners, the names and details of the students named by it in the FIR, so that they can be made a party to the matter and listed it for hearing on March 1.

The court wanted the students named in FIR to be made a party, as it was of the view that they would be affected by any order passed in the petition.

During the hearing, senior advocate Aman Lekhi, appearing for the petitioners, contended that the varsity appeared to be intimidated by the protesting students.

"They (JNU) are afraid. It is clear," he said.

He said the protestors have no right to agitate where they are as there is an appropriate place and time for such activities.

Central government standing counsel Monika Arora, appearing for JNU, informed the judge about the lodging of the FIR pursuant to the court's query on February 17 as to why the varsity had not taken legal recourse against the blockade of its administrative block.

She also said that the set of students who were blocking the block keeps changing.

Around 150-200 students have been blocking access to the block since February 9, protesting against a May 2016 notification of the University Grants Commission which set a limit of eight students per professor for M.Phil and Ph.D courses, the petitioners have claimed.

Apart from their documents, the petitioner students in their plea have also sought removal of the protesters and restoration of the functioning of the varsity's administrative block.

In their plea, filed through advocate Pradeep Arya, they have contended that no protest can be staged within 20 metres of administrative and academic complexes as per JNU's academic rules and regulations.

They have sought police protection for varsity officials so that they can enter the administrative block and get the documents which the petitioners want.