JNU directed not to enforce attendance undertaking

The Delhi High Court on Thursday directed the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) not to enforce an undertaking that bounds students to abide by its attendance rules.

Justice Siddharth Mridul's order came while disposing off a contempt petition filed by students Rajamathangi S, Yusuf Indorewala and Noel Mariam George.

The students sought initiation of contempt proceedings against JNU, its Vice Chancellor and registrars for wilfully disobeying the specific directions and the High Court's July 16 order which directed the varsity not to impose measures to ensure mandatory attendance.

Rajamathangi's counsel and senior advocate Akhil Sibal along with lawyers Rahul Kumar and Vaibhav Sethi told the court that students seeking fresh admission or re-registration in subsequent semesters were required to provide duly filled and signed admission folios to the University.

The counsel said that the students have to give an undertaking that said: "I, hereby, undertake that I shall abide by the attendance rules of the University. I understand that if I do not fulfil the attendance requirements, the University will take actions as per rules."

"JNU has wilfully disregarded the orders of the High Court and the coercion being used on the students of the University to abide by the declaration already made in the admission folios," the students' petition said.

--IANS

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