Don't obstruct admin block, HC tells JNU students

The Delhi High Court on Friday directed Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) students protesting against the varsity's new attendance rule not to obstruct the way of the staff when they enter the administrative block.

The court also barred them from holding demonstrations within 100 metres of JNU's administrative block.

Justice V. Kameswar Rao directed the students to allow the Registrar and other staff to enter the admin block of the campus on Saturday and Sunday when the university would remain open for disbursing salary to its employees.

However, it allowed the students to hold a peaceful protest on the Sabarmati lawn but directed them to follow the court's ruling which restrained them from holding demonstrations within a 100-metre periphery of the university's administrative block.

The court also granted permission to the authorities to call police in any extreme condition.

The direction came on a plea by the university, seeking the court's direction to issue contempt notice against the students for violating the court's August 9, 2017 order.

The court has also issued a notice to the JNUSU office- bearers on the plea and listed the matter for February 20.

"By their action of blocking and protesting at the administrative block they have once again brought the university to a standstill. The officials are unable to carry out their duties amid the blocking of the administrative block which on occasions turn violent and aggressive in nature," said advocate Monika Arora in the plea filed by the JNU administration.

The counsel told the court that the protesters broke all the flower pots which were worth around Rs 3 lakh and did not allow an ambulance to enter to pick up an official who had fainted inside the admin block.

Meanwhile, JNU students vacated the administrative block after occupying it for two days.

However, the students continued their strike against the new attendance rule, as per which they would be forfeited of their hostel accommodation and scholarship/fellowship in case they do not achieve 75 per cent attendance.

--IANS

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