JNU row: HC stays disciplinary action against Umar, Anirban

Students challenged varsity's disciplinary action against them for their alleged role in a controversial event on Kashmir organised on university campus

The Delhi High Court on Friday stayed all disciplinary action, including rustication orders, against JNU students Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya.

Justice Manmohan gave same relief that was given to JNU Students Union President Kanhaiya Kumar and others on May 13.

The students challenged the varsity's disciplinary action against them for their alleged role in a controversial event on Kashmir organised on the university campus on February 9.

Khalid was rusticated for one semester and fined Rs. 20,000, while Bhattacharya was rusticated till July 15 and after July 23 he was barred from the university campus for five years. Bhattacharya was only given a week between July 16-22 to complete his thesis.

On May 13, the court granted a conditional stay on disciplinary action against all JNU students if they end all agitation.

The university took the action on April 25 after a high level inquiry committee set up by the varsity administration found them guilty of "misconduct" and "indiscipline".

Staying the disciplinary action order, the court said they if their appeal against disciplinary action order is rejected by the appellant authority (headed by vice chancellor), the order of disciplinary order shall not be given effect for two weeks.

This will give a window to the students to challenge the appellant authority decision before the High Court.

The February 9 event led to the arrests of Kanhaiya Kumar, Khalid and Bhattacharya on sedition charges after it was alleged that participants at the event shouted anti-national slogans. Delhi Police repeatedly claimed they had evidence against Kanhaiya Kumar and the other students but failed to produce it in court, leading to their release from jail on bail.