The Delhi High Court on Tuesday extended the ban on protest by Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) students near the Administration Block, which can bar the entry and exit of the Vice-Chancellor and other staff members, until March 9.
The court also directed the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU) office-bearers to submit their response to the university’s petition seeking contempt action against the students for obstructing the Administrative Block by protesting near it.
During the hearing, the JNUSU office-bearers told the court that the main reason behind protests in the varsity was not holding of academic council meetings.
Mode of protest
Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Sanjay Jain and Central government standing counsel Monika Arora, appearing for JNU, said the issue before the court pertained to the mode of protest and not the reasons for it.
The university said it has convened a meeting with the JNUSU on Friday and with the Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers’ Association (JNUTA) on Thursday to resolve issues.
It also said that an open house is held every Monday on campus and the students are free to air their grievances there.
However, senior advocate Akhil Sibal, appearing for some of the JNUSU office-bearers, said efforts were made in the past to air grievances but without success.
The court had on February 16 directed the JNU students not to obstruct the Vice-Chancellor and other staff from entering the Administrative Block to carry out their work.
‘Functioning hampered’
The JNU had contended that protest near the Administrative Block was hampering its day-to-day functioning, including disbursal of salaries.
The university has claimed that protests on campus were in violation of the High Court’s August 9, 2017, direction to the students not to stage any agitation within 100 metres of the Administrative Block, which houses several offices, including that of the Vice-Chancellor.
