JNUSU chief, two others suspended

New Delhi: The Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) on Thursday suspended three office-bearers of its students’ union from the varsity’s statutory bodies and committees for alleged misconduct and indiscipline during the Academic Council (AC) meeting held on June 16.

JNUSU (Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union) president Mohit Kumar Pandey, general secretary Satarupa Chakraborty, and joint secretary Tabrez Hasan have received suspension letters for using “unparliamentary language,” “unruly behaviour,” and “unauthorised video-recording” during the last AC meeting.

The administration has constituted an inquiry committee to look into the happenings at the AC meeting. JNUSU members had alleged that they were heckled and manhandled by a section of teachers at the meeting.

The letter issued to Mr Pandey read, “There is prima facie evidence of misconduct and indiscipline by Mohit Kumar Pandey. He is hereby suspended from participating in all statutory bodies and committees of the varsity with immediate effect until the final outcome of the Proctorial Enquiry Committee.”

The administration, however, claimed that the student representatives disrupted the meeting.

“While many important agenda items related to the students, faculty, and schools/centres were thoroughly discussed and passed, violation of norms and rules by these students left an appalling impression in the minds of several external members of the AC from around the country.

More deplorable is the engagement of JNUSU representatives in spreading misinformation and lies through the social media and press releases,” JNU registrar said in a statement. Condemning the move, the JNUSU said, “True to its dark history, the JNU administration, under the leadership of V-C Jagadesh Kumar, has yet again attempted to silence critical voices.”

Refuting the allegations of the administration, JNU Teachers’ Association (JNUTA) president Ayesha Kidwai said that JNUTA was a witness to the violations committed by the vice-chancellor (VC) and his team.

“For the first time in JNU’s history, JNUSU representatives were not allowed to speak even once, and the physical challenges on them by some faculty members were not once rebuked by the chair (VC),” Ms Kidwai said.

The JNUTA also accused the administration of video recording the proceedings of the May 9 AC meeting without seeking permission.