HC sets aside JNU’s fine against Kanhaiya

NEWDELHI: The Delhi High Court Friday set aside a Jawaharlal University (JNU) committee’s order imposing a fine of ₹10,000 on former students’ union leader Kanhaiya Kumar for addressing and participating in an event held at the university campus on February 9, 2016.

On July 4, a university committee had found Kumar guilty of taking part in the rally, in which anti-national slogans were allegedly raised, and imposed the fine.

Justice Siddharth Mridul noted the order passed by JNU was ‘illegal, irrational and suffered from procedural impropriety’. The court also said the order was unsustainable on various grounds and sent the matter back to the appellate authority (JNU), which would start the proceedings afresh.

“The order is prima facie unsustainable on numerous accounts,” the court said.

Following the court’s direction, the counsel for JNU said they would withdraw the order and reconsider it. The court also said that even though the fine imposed on Kumar was only ₹10,000, the action would have consequences on his "civil consequences".

The court also asked JNU to conduct fresh proceedings against Kumar.

Senior advocate Rebecca John, appearing for Kumar, informed the court that her client was not even an organiser of the event. She said that the fine hence was a violation of “principles of natural justice.”