JNUiites term findings of university probe panel report biased.
Twenty one JNU students who have been served show-cause notice to explain their alleged role in the controversial February 9 event have decided not to reply to the notice and refused to accept accept the report of the university’s five-member high-level inquiry committee.
A decision to this effect was taken at a JNU Students’ Council meeting, which went on till late Wednesday night. Calling the inquiry “spurious” and “biased”, the students’ union decided to oppose disciplinary action taken against the students.
The resolution, which was passed in the meeting, stated, “The JNUSU has expressed concern over the composition, terms of reference and functioning of the inquiry committee. We have communicated to the JNU administration how the committee has violated the principles of natural justice in the inquiry process. The JNU administration has neither addressed our concerns nor has taken any step regarding this. Without addressing these concerns, no free and fair enquiry is possible. Now the students have been issued show-cause notices, which hold them guilty. The accused students have not even been given the entire report despite the demands raised by the JNUSU. The accused students have not even been told the specific charges against them. The JNUSU will oppose any disciplinary action based upon the findings of this partial and biased enquiry”.
A majority was in favour of the resolution while only three students from the council were reluctant to vote in favour. “The inquiry report is based on an unfair probe process and, hence, we refused to accept its findings. Our replies to the show-cause notice will be sent accordingly,” a member of the council said.
The show-cause notices were issued to 21 students on March 14, asking them to explain why disciplinary action should not be initiated against them after the high-level committee of the university found them guilty of “violating university norms and discipline rules”. The JNU authorities extended the deadline till Friday. The panel recommended the rustication of five students, including Kanhaiya Kumar, Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya.
Kanhaiya case hearing March 23 The high court on Thursday fixed for March 23 the hearing on the pleas seeking cancellation of interim bail granted to JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar in a sedition case. “The petitions have been received on transfer. Renotify for March 23,” Justice Suresh Kait said. On Wednesday, the matter came up for hearing before Justice Pratibha Rani who referred it to the chief justice for allocating it before an appropriate bench.
