JNU scholar: Degree blocked due to February 9 row

A Ph.D. scholar in Jawa-harlal Nehru University alleged that the varsity has refused to award her a M.Phil. degree in connection with a controversial event during which anti-national slogans were allegedly raised.

University officials said that certain protocols are to be followed when any matter is being investigated, but maintained that they need to check details of the particular case.

Chintu Kumari, former JNU Students’ Union general secretary, who is pursuing Ph.D. in political science, was found “guilty” of violating disciplinary norms by the JNU probe panel investigating the February 9 event against the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru.

While Ms Kumari was issued a show-cause notice following completion of the inquiry by the five-member high-level committee, she was not among the eight students who were debarred from academic activities pending an inquiry.

“Today I went to collect my M.Phil. marksheet and I was informed by the administration that my degree and mark-sheets have been blocked by the chief proctor’s office in connection with the February 9 incident,” Ms Kumari alleged.

“The biased probe panel has so far not substantiated its decision of taking action on the eight students of which I was not even a part. Such arbitrary decisions by the administration are putting the future of many students at stake,” she added.

Ms Kumari also maintained that the degree in question is for an M.Phil. course which she had completed an year back following which she enrolled herself in Ph.D.

Responding to the allegations by Ms Kumari, a senior university official said, “There are certain protocols to be followed in matters pending an inquiry or action but I need to check whether Chintu Kumari’s marksheets and degree have been blocked in connection with the incident as being claimed by her.”

The varsity is yet to announce the quantum of punishment in connection with the incident after the high-level committee probing the issue had found some students “guilty” of violating disciplinary norms of the university and disrupting communal harmony on campus.

The panel is also believed to have recommended rustication of five students, including JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar, and his fellow students Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya and monetary penalty for others.

Mr Kumar, Mr Khalid and Mr Bhattacharya were arrested and charged with sedition. They are now out on bail.

Two students, Shweta Raj and Rama Naga, who were among the students who have been debarred, had last week said that the university has “denied” their fellowships maintaining that their suspension has not been revoked yet. The university had termed it as a “technical error” and said their grants will be disbursed.