JNU in disciplinary mode, sets new rules; Rs 20000 fine for dharna, admission cancellation for violence

Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has come out with a 10 page ‘Rules of Discipline and proper conduct of students of JNU’ and has laid out punishments for different kinds of acts like protests and forgery and procedures for proctorial enquiry. The new rules were approved by the Executive Council the highest decision body of the University, after it was rocked by slew of protests over the screening of a BBC documentary.

JNU comes out with new rules

Now students can be imposed a penalty of Rs 20,000 for holding dharnas and face admission cancellation or a fine of up to Rs 30,000 for resorting to violence at Jawaharlal Nehru University.

The Executive Council members have stated that issue has been brought as an additional agenda item and it was mentioned that this document has been prepared for court matters.

There has strong reaction from Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarathi Parishad with JNU Secretary Vikas Patel demanding rollback and terming new rules as ‘draconian’ code of conduct. Also termed the new rules as ‘authoritarian (‘tughlaqi’) while stating that old code of conduct was sufficiently effective.

The said rules will apply to all students of the University, including part time students whether admitted before the commencement of these rules or after it.

Punishments listed for crimes

• Blockage
• Indulging in gambling
• Unauthorized occupation of hostel rooms
• Use of abusive and derogatory language
• Committing forgery

The rules also mention that a copy of the complaints will be sent to the parents.

Cases under the purview of the Chief Proctors office

• Sexual Office
• Eve-Teasing
• Ragging
• Arousing communal disharmony cases

Cases involving both teachers and students may be referred to the Grievance Redressal Committee of the University, school and Central level

Chief Proctor Rajnish Mishra,

"There were rules mentioned in the statute. However, the new rules have been formulated after a proctorial enquiry."

However, the Chief Proctor has not revealed when this proctorial enquiry started and when further asked whether old rules have been modified, he replied in affirmation.

New rules propose punishments for all acts of violence and coercion

• Gheraos
• Sit ins or any variation which disrupts normal academic and administrative functioning
• Any act which incites or leads to violence

The punishment includes,

"cancellation of admission or withdrawal of degree or denial of registration for a specified period, rustication up to four semesters and/or declaring any part or the entire JNU campus out of bounds, expulsion, a fine of up to Rs 30,000 as per the old rules, One/two semesters of eviction from the hostel".

The rule states if the matter is sub-judice , then chief proctors office will take action as per the order and direction of the honorable court.

Fine of 20,000 will be levied for

Hunger strikes

Dharnas

Group Bargaining

Any form of protest by blocking the entrance or exit of any of the academic and/or administrative complexes

Disrupt the movement of any members of the University

Old rules of JNU had proposed punishments which were cancellation of admission , rustication and expulsion for gheraos, demonstrations and proposed punishments.

As per statute, the University has a proctorial system in which administration of student related matters about all acts of indiscipline are delegated to the chief proctor. After receipt of the complaint, it will be scrutinized by the chief proctor who will set up a procotorial enquiry.

The document reads

"Subsequently, either a one/two/three member(s) proctorial enquiry committee to conduct an in-depth investigation into the matter. Proctorial enquiry is an internal enquiry of JNU and hence, no other person except the Board members is allowed to be present during hearings.”

"The accused or complainants is not allowed to be represented by a third party. Similarly, he/she cannot have an observer during the process of enquiry,".

Matter not discussed at length in EC meeting

An Executive Council member stated on condition of anonymity that the matter was not discussed at length in the EC meeting and  "we were told that the rules have been created for court matters".

Executive Council member Bramha Prakash stated "The university might have planned to streamline the process and prepare a full document but it should have been discussed in the EC meeting properly."

ABVP General Secretary Vikas Patel had this to say,

"There is no need for this new authoritarian ('tuglaki') code of conduct. The old code of conduct was sufficiently effective.

"Instead of focusing on improvement of safety security and order, the JNU admin has imposed this draconian code of conduct, without any discussion with the stakeholders, especially the student community. We demand its rollback."

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