JNU row: Panel reduces fines of some students
NEW DELHI: A JNU committee hearing the appeals of 21 students penalised in connection with an event in which antinational slogans were allegedly raised, found them all guilty of indiscipline but reduced punishments for some of them.
The event to commemorate Afzal Guru’s death anniversary was held on February 9.
“The committee appointed by the JNU vice-chancellor looked into aspects related to indiscipline. For some the punishment has remained same while for some, it has been reduced,” an official told HT.
The punishment to Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya remained the same as earlier given by a highlevel enquiry committee (HLEC). Punishment to some other students was reduced, sources said.
The students had organised a cultural event on February 9 where anti-national slogans were allegedly raised. Khalid, Bhattacharya and JNU students’ Union president Kanhaiya Kumar were arrested and later released on bail in a sedition case after the incident.
JNU V-C M Jagadesh Kumar had formed a four-member committee to hear appeals of students found guilty of indiscipline by the high-level committee.
The committee was constituted a month after the Delhi High Court stayed the punishment.
Bhattacharya and Khalid were rusticated for one semester. But JNU will remain out of bounds for Bhattacharya for five years from July 25, 2016. A fine of `20,000 was also slapped on Khalid.
Some students were given relief after the appeals. For instance, Rama Naga, the general secretary of the JNU students’ union, has been asked to pay `10, 000 instead of `20, 000.
“Ashutosh, who was earlier fined `20,000, has been asked to pay `15,000 but the order to vacate the hostel remains. Anant was fined `20,000 and now has been asked to pay `5,000,” said a student.
ABVP leader and JNU students’ union joint secretary Saurabh Sharma said his financial penalty was reduced. “I have been asked to pay `5,000 instead of `10,000,” he said.
The University said every student was called for deposition before the appeals committee. Every student was given a copy of the HLEC report and the evidence and was given an opportunity to make an appeal in writing.
It wasn’t immediately clear if JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar’s earlier fine of `10,000 was reduced. JNU RAPE: BAIL PLEA HEARING ON AUG 27
The anticipatory bail plea of Anmol Ratan, accused of raping a 28-year-old JNU student in a university hostel room, on Tuesday came up before a Delhi court which decided to hear it on Saturday.
The petition was filed before additional sessions judge Amit Bansal, who put up the matter for arguments on the next date of hearing on August 27.
Police claimed a first-year PhD student had alleged that Ratan, also a JNU student, raped her on August 20.
According to her complaint filed at Vasant Kunj (North) police station, she had posted on her Facebook account that she wanted to watch a movie and asked if anyone had its CD.
It said Ratan apparently messaged her saying he had a copy. Thereafter, he picked her up and took her to Brahamputra Hostel, where he stays. She alleged that he offered her a spiked drink and raped her. PTI