Intensifying the campaign for removal of registrar and revocation of suspension of eight students of the Jawaharlal Nehru University, students and teachers of the varsity staged a protest on Wednesday. The JNU students and teachers also demanded immediate release of Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya, who are in judicial custody for sedition.

JNU Teachers’ Association (JNUTA) general secretary Vikram Aditya Singh said that they will continue to protest till the registrar is removed. “His (registrar) action clearly shows that registrar’s commitment is not with the JNU, but with the government at the Centre,” added Mr Singh.

The JNU students and teachers also demanded immediate and unconditional withdrawal of the academic suspension of eight students, since their suspension by the high-level inquiry committee is completely against the principles of natural justice.

“The officiating registrar along with the vice-chancellor is responsible for giving the Delhi police blanket permission to enter the campus. He played a vital role in suspending eight students and has been spreading lies and rumours targeting JNU and has been involved in witch-hunting of students. He should be removed for acting against the university’s interests,” said JNUTA president Ajay Patnayak.

In the JNU campus, art works have came up in support of Mr Khalid and Mr Bhattacharya after the return of students’ union president Kanhaiya Kumar. Mr Kumar is out on interim bail of six months, but Mr Khalid and Mr Bhattacharya are serving a two-week judicial custody in connection with the February 9 event commemorating the 2001 Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru.

“Eight students have been suspended without any inquiry and have been debarred from academic activities. We continue to fight till revocation of suspension, release of two JNU students and for repeal of sedition law,” said a JNU student.

Meanwhile, upping their ante against JNU registrar Bhupinder Zutshi, the varsity's teachers association has decided to “de-recognise” any orders from him saying that he has completed 62-years of age and hence no official communication should be addressed to him.

“JNUTA has decided to de-recognise the officiating registrar as he has completed 62 years today which is the actual age of retirement for any regular registrar in the university as per the statutes,” the teacher's association said.