Students say varsity’s inquiry panel limited, refuse to testify

STUDENTS FEEL COMMITTEE LACKS REPRESENTATION OF WOMEN, DALITS AND OBCs

NEW DELHI: With students refusing to depose before the JNU’s inquiry committee, the administration decided to send letters to their permanent addresses as a final call.

The inquiry committee constituted by the university is probing the February 9 incident, where students were accused of shouting anti-India slogans.

On the basis of the panel’s preliminary inquiry recommendation, eight students, including JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar, were debarred from academic activities.

The committee, scheduled to submit the report on February 25, also sent notice to 20 other students.

“The committee will send letters to the students three times. First time they have already been called. We are continuously sending them information…,” said Poonam Kudesai, JNU public relations officer.

If the students fail to respond even after the third notice, then committee will finalise its rec- ommendations on the basis of the evidence, eyewitness accounts and other material available.

The students refused to depose as they feel the committee is not representative and bypassed the proctorial board.

“There are women students who have been called and the committee does not have female representatives. There are also Dalit, OBC students. The administration needs to learn a lesson from University of Hyderabad. We are suspicious of the administration,” said Shehla Rashid, JNUSU vice-president.

Earlier, the JNU teachers association also raised the issue in a meeting with the vice-chancellor.

But the university is firm about not increasing the panel’s membership. It said it trusted the three-member panel.