JNU refuses to accept Umar’s PhD thesis

University, however, accepts Kanhaiya Kumar’s doctoral dissertation

Jawaharlal Nehru University has refused to accept Umar Khalid’s PhD thesis as the Proctor’s Office refused to give clearance citing non-compliance with the punishments passed by the High-Level Enquiry Committee (HLEC).

The HLEC was set up by the university to probe the February 9, 2016, incident on campus that led to a “sedition row”.

On July 6, the university had recommended that Mr. Khalid be rusticated.

The action was taken by the university despite the Delhi High Court’s orders on July 20 that set aside JNU’s HLEC decision of penalising former JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar calling the decision “illegal, irrational” and instructing the university not to take any “coercive action” against Mr. Khalid until further notice.

However, on Monday, which was the last day for submission, JNU accepted Mr. Kumar’s PhD thesis.

Reason cited

“Despite clear instructions from the High Court, the Chief Proctor’s Office is refusing to unblock the process required to submit my PhD. They are citing non-compliance with the punishments passed by the HLEC as the reason. Today [Monday] is the last date of submission, and we do not know whether we will be allowed to submit the thesis on which we have worked for the last five years,” said Mr. Khalid.

Mr. Khalid said that he had moved the High Court again on Monday evening as it was a brazen violation of the court’s prior order.

A violation, says HC

“The High Court again today [on Monday] reiterated that not taking submission or not allowing registration amounts to “coercive action” which is clearly in violation of the July 20 order. But still, the chief proctor in consultation with the Vice-Chancellor refused to give clearance when we reached his office in the evening,” he said.

He added that the administration’s refusal amounted to contempt of court and as he had pointed out earlier, the HLEC’s decision has been set aside by the court thrice.