HC: No protests near JNU’s admin block

‘Freedom Square’, a popular protest site at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), will be out of bound for students with the Delhi High Court on Wednesday imposing a restraining order for students from protesting within 100 metres of the admin block. The high court was of the view that students can protest at sites designated by the JNU administration. It said that the students should not block “ingress and egress” of officials in the admin building.

It said there already a place for protest earmarked by JNU administration, therefore, students should stage their ‘dharna’ at Sabarmati hostel lawns. “

The JNU administration had earlier this year moved the high court contending that students, who were protesting against a University Grant Commission notification, were blocking the Vice Chancellor and other officials of the university from visiting the administrative building.

JNU had said that the manner of protest by blocking the ingress and egress of the officials was hampering the functioning of the university. It had said that complaints were lodged with the local police, consequent to which, two FIRs have been registered.

The high court said that police should not normally come inside the university campus in case students are holding protest peacefully. However, if there was flouting of court’s order, the administration could call the police, it said.

The court had in previous hearing said that policemen should be sensitized about the manner of dealing with the students in case of any untoward situation. The court also allowed for CCTV cameras to be installed at the main entry gate of the campus and in and around the admin building. JNU had also urged the court to allow them to install over 600 CCTV cameras in the campus in wake of several controversies involving students.