JNUSU files petition in Delhi HC challenging new hostel manual

Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) on Tuesday approached the Delhi High Court challenging the decision to amend the hostel manual contending that it is "mala fide, arbitrary, illegal and adversely affects the student community".

JNUSU filed a petition, which is likely to come up for hearing on Wednesday, challenging the Inter Hostel Administration's decision to amend the hostel manual.

The plea sought directions of the court to restrain the JNU administration from imposing late fee on students for registrations in the winter semester-2020 and from taking any actions which would give effect to the draft hostel manual.

The petition was moved by advocates Abhik Chimni, Aman Shukla, Mayank Goyal and Aarti on behalf of JNUSU members including its president Aishe Ghosh, vice president Saket Moon among others.

It challenged the amendments including an increase in hostel fee, affecting the rights of those in reserved categories like allocation of hostel rooms, and reduced representation of JNUSU in the IHA amongst other changes.

The petition further stated that no clarity has been provided in the amended IHA on how this categorisation is to work in the University.

"That the financial category of this scholarship is laid down clearly as applicable to students whose income does not exceed INR 2,50,000. That students in the University who fall under the category of merit cum means scholarship benefited from a reduced rate in terms of hostel room rent," the petition said.

The JNUSU, in the pea, also alleged that the hostel presidents, who are all members of the IHA and are democratically elected representatives, were sent an email dated October 28, 2019, at 2:50 pm stating that the reconvened meeting is to take place at 3 pm.

"This action of the Chairperson of the IHA insured that the IHA was held with no student representation, defeating the mandate of the hostel manual of including the views of the stakeholders when changing the provisions of the hostel manual," the plea added.

It said that JNUSU and hostel presidents wrote to the JNU administration on several occasions in the matter but the university refused to take any action and "in fact allowed the ratification of this illegal meeting".

The students of JNU have been protesting for over two months against the new hostel manual, which hiked hostel and service charges and imposed several restrictions.