HC stays eviction notice to PHD scholar, wants JNU response

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday temporarily stayed an eviction notice issued to a PHD student of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), who had moved court alleging he was forced to do a research against the Hindi language. Justice Vibhu Bakhru sought the university’s response on the student’s application, who wanted a stay on the eviction notice issued by JNU on February 11.

The varsity is said to have directed him to vacate his hostel, failing which he would be “forcibly” evicted on February 13.

The application was filed by advocate Dibyanshu Pandey in a pending plea by PHD student Ashutosh Kumar Roy, who had alleged he was being coerced to carry out the research .

The plea alleged 35-year-old Roy, a student of the Centre for Historical Studies, was being forced by a professor to arbitrarily change his course of research, saying Hindi is a communal language and that his research must also endorse the same.

On February 8, the court had sought the university’s response on the plea that had said he was registered in the Winter Semester 2019 and an appropriate supervisor should be given to him in accordance with UGC rules.

On Wednesday, Roy through his counsel filed an application, saying he was sent an eviction notice that directed him to immediately vacate the hostel room over “false allegations” regarding unpaid mess bills.

Granting interim relief, the court stayed the eviction notice till the next date of hearing. The matter would be now heard on April 23.

Despite several attempts JNU Dean of students Umesh Kadam did not respond for a comment.