8 JNU students suspended for disrupting AC Meet

NEW DELHI: At least eight students were suspended by the JNU administration and their hostel facility withdrawn on Tuesday for disrupting the Academic Council (AC) Meeting on December 26, said a university professor.

“I know that a few students have been suspended but nothing official has been heard from the administration’s side,” JNU professor and council member Nivedita Menon said.

A group of students was alleged to have disrupted the 142nd AC Meeting on Monday by barging inside the convention centre where it was being convened.

The students belonged mainly to Birsa-ambedkarphule Students Association (BAPSA), Democratic Students’ Union (DSU), and Students’ Front for Swaraj (SFS), Rama Naga, former General Secretary of JNU Students Union (JNUSU), said.

It was alleged by the university administration that the meeting was disrupted when a number of faculty members, part of the Academic Council, objecting to a part of the agenda, called the students inside who had been protesting outside.

“Towards the end of the AC meeting, someone from this group of members, disrupting the meeting, called in the students who were protesting outside the venue. A group of unruly students broke open the latch of the meeting room after thumping the door, came inside and began to shout slogans at the Chairperson and the Academic Council members,” said a statement issued by the JNU administration on Monday.