The Delhi High Court on Thursday asked the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) to maintain status quo on sealing of the office of a sexual harassment panel and sought its reply on a plea by some teachers and students challenging the decision to disband it.
A Bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C. Hari Shankar issued notice to JNU and the University Grant Commission for November 28 and sought their responses on the petition.
Registrar’s circular
The petition has opposed quashing of the office orders superseding the Gender Sensitisation Committee Against Sexual Harassment (GSCASH) by an Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) and a Registrar’s circular putting on hold election of student representatives to it. “It is directed that till the next date of hearing, status quo shall be maintained regarding the sealing of the aforesaid office,” the Bench said.
“We have to ensure that the records are preserved. Maintain the seal. You have sealed it,” the Bench told JNU. Additional Solicitor General Sanjay Jain, appearing for JNU, said the varsity was willing to preserve the records of the pending complaints.
