The Delhi High Court on Friday put on hold the disciplinary action taken by the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) administration against students Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya, who are accused of sedition in connection with a February 9 event, till their appeals against the decision are decided by the University’s appellate authority.
Justice Manmohan granted the protection to both students, who sought the same relief that was given on May 13 to JNU Students’ Union (JNUSU) president Kanhaiya Kumar and others, who too faced disciplinary action after the row over the February 9 event.
“This Court is of the opinion that the petitioners are entitled to the same order as passed by this court on May 13, 2016…” the Court said.
While Mr. Khalid was rusticated for one semester and slapped with a Rs. 20,000 fine, Mr. Bhattacharya was rusticated till July 15 and barred from campus for five years after July 23. The HC had on May 13 granted the relief to Mr. Kumar and others after the JNUSU promised to withdraw the hunger strike.
During the hearing, the court said the protection granted to Mr. Khalid and Mr. Bhattacharya was conditional and that the JNUSU would not indulge in any protest.
The JNU action and after
April 25, 2016: JNU > rusticates Umar Khalid, Anirban Bhattacharya. Umar has also been fined Rs. 20,000 and Anirban barred from JNU campus for five years from July 23, 2016. JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar fined Rs. 10,000.
April 26, 2016: JNU students > reject punishment , burn report | Also read: > Depression grips rusticated student’s family in Srinagar
May 10, 2016: Umar and Anirban > move court against their rustication, court asks JNU administration to explain the decision for their expulsion and submit relevant documents as well as the report of its High-Level Enquiry Committee.
May 12, 2016: > Kanhaiya, others move HC against JNU action. Apart from Kanhaiya, the others who have challenged the order are Ashwati A. Nair, Aishwariya Adhikari, Komal Mohite, Chintu Kumari, Anwesha Chakraborty and two others.
May 13, 2016: High Court > stays JNU’s disciplinary action against students
May 27, 2016: High Court puts on hold disciplinary action taken by JNU administration against Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya.
> JNU row: What is the outrage all about? | >Full coverage
