Delhi HC issues direction on JNU student-admin tiff

The Delhi High Court on Friday issued a notice to office bearers of Jawaharlal Nehru University Student Union (JNUSU) on a plea seeking contempt action against students for violating a court ruling, which restrains them to protest within 100 metres of admin block of the university.

This comes a day after a group of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) students confined top officials in the admin building of the varsity in a protest against the compulsory attendance system.

The court also sought a reply by February 20.

It also issued an interim direction barring JNU student leaders from restraining entry of vice-chancellor, pro vice-chancellor, registrar and staff into the Admin building till Monday.

The court further observed that the JNU administration can take help of Delhi police if any extreme situation occurs.

JNUSU-led students allegedly blocked the Admin Bloc on Thursday, demanding a meeting with the vice-chancellor Jagadesh Kumar.

JNU students and administration have been at loggerheads ever since the University imposed a compulsory attendance system last month.

Earlier today, the JNUSU in a statement said that the college administration should meet the students and teachers and "not dictate through media, court, police and punishments."

The student union further alleged that the vice-chancellor and its top administrators have been spreading falsehoods about the JNU students' protests.

The vice-chancellor yesterday condemned the students' behaviour and tweeted, "JNUSU led students have confined top officials of JNU in admin building since 11 AM. When they tried to go out of admin building, they were shouted at and forced to go back into the building. Unbecoming of students. Shouldn't such behaviour be condemned? "

He further said that even after JNU administration promised to meet the JNUSU officer bearers, they mistreated and shouted at the two rectors.