According to the new rules of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), students can be fined up to Rs 20,000 and their admission can be canceled for staging a sit-in on the campus. On the other hand, a fine of Rs 30,000 can be imposed for violence.
According to the new rules, a student can be fined up to Rs 50,000 for physical violence, abusing and beating another student, staff or faculty member. Students and teachers have slammed the university for the new rules, terming them as “black” rules.
Meanwhile, the JNU Students’ Union has called a meeting of all student organizations on Thursday to discuss the new rules. The 10-page ‘JNU Students’ Discipline and Proper Conduct Rules’ lays down punishments for various types of acts such as protesting and forgery. On doing so, a fine ranging from Rs 5,000 to Rs 50,000 can be imposed and admission can be cancelled.
According to the rules document, the rules went into effect on February 3. The rules come amid protests at the university over the screening of a British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) documentary. The document states that the Executive Council, the highest decision-making body of the university, has approved the new rules.
However, members of the executive council told PTI that the issue has been put forward as part of an agenda. He said that these rules have been framed with the intention of taking matters to court and there was no proper discussion on the matter. Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) JNU secretary Vikas Patel termed the new rules as Tughlaqi decrees. He claimed that the old code of conduct was quite effective.
He demanded the withdrawal of this code of conduct. JNU Vice-Chancellor Shantisree D. Pandit did not respond to phone calls and messages sent by PTI. The document states that the rules will apply to all students of the university, including part-time students. These rules will apply to all students admitted before or after the coming into force of the rules.
