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In yet another crackdown on student protests, Jawaharlal Nehru University has allegedly served a show cause notice to student union members and 12 hostel presidents over protests in September regarding the water crisis.
JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh has alleged that the JNU administration had given them assurance of no action against the students over the September 19 protest. In the show cause notice dated December 13 accessed by ANI, the chief proctor has said Aishe Ghosh has "been found guilty of leading a protest demonstration of 400-500 students in front of Hon'ble VC's residence on September 19, 2023". The notice also claimed that Ghosh failed to appear for the hearing despite three notices appearing on November 7, 11 and 24. The JNU administration has mentioned that it is an act of indiscipline and misconduct while demanding a reply by December 18. JNUSU invited all hostel presidents, organisations and concerned individuals for a meeting at Teflas at 9 pm to discuss the show cause notice. "Despite the JNU VC giving assurance of no action against the students regarding the protest on the water crisis during the G-20, today 12 Hostel Presidents and JNUSU members have received this show cause calling for action against us," JNUSU President Ghosh said. This comes as a new action by the university administration which has been accused of stifling dissent on the campus. Recently, Jawaharlal Nehru University has fined Aishe Ghosh Rs 10,000 for "forcibly pushing open the locked door of the students' union office" on the campus in March. Jawaharlal Nehru University has fined student body president Aishe Ghosh Rs 10,000 for "forcibly pushing open the locked door of the students' union office" on the campus in March. Ghosh received the order issued by the administration on December 1 and has denounced the order. ANI reported on Monday that the manual has been implemented following approval by the highest decision-making body of the university (Executive Council) on November 24. However, the incident took place on March 2 and a manual was approved in November. As per the manual, punishments have been listed for 28 "misconduct", including blockage, indulging in gambling, unauthorised occupation of hostel rooms, use of abusive and derogatory language and committing forgery. For hunger strikes, dharnas, group bargaining and any other form of protest by blocking the entrance or exit of any of the academic and/or administrative complexes or disrupting the movements of any member of the University community, a fine of up to Rs 20,000 will be levied. Students at Jawaharlal Nehru University can face a fine of Rs 20,000 for resorting to violence, holding dharnas, and hunger strikes on campus. While the student union has condemned the new manual, vice chancellor Santishree D Pandit defended it, saying that these rules are not new and have been in place for years. (ANI)
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