JNU student who alleged sexual harassment and protested against 'inaction' receives warning from varsity

The incident took place on March 31, when a car carrying a few people stopped on the JNU Ring Road and allegedly shouted derogatory slogans at the student.

JNU The incident took place on March 31, when a car carrying a few people stopped on the JNU Ring Road and allegedly shouted derogatory slogans at the student.

Over a month after she alleged that she was sexually harassed by some students on campus and started an indefinite strike near the main entrance against the “inaction” of the superintendent, a student of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) received a notice from the university for “blocking” entry to JNU and “causing trouble to students and staff”. The notice also termed her behaviour as “dangerous”.

In its May 24 hearing notice to the student, the Probation Office stated: “During the probationary investigation, it was found that you… blocked the North Gate (entrance)… thereby causing difficulties to students, residents, staff, senior citizens, persons with disabilities and school children… and screened a movie at the North Gate on April 5, 2024 without prior permission from the competent authority… This type of activity is dangerous and falls under… ‘Disturbing/blocking the normal movement of persons or traffic on the university premises. Blocking or forcibly preventing any normal movement or safety regulations promulgated by the university.’” The student was asked to respond by May 29.

The incident took place on March 31, when a car carrying a few people stopped on the JNU Ring Road and allegedly shouted derogatory slogans at the student.

When asked for comment, Internal Complaints Committee Chairperson Vandana Mishra told The Indian Express: “All information relating to cases before the ICC is strictly confidential.”

Speaking to The Indian Express, JNU Vice-Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit said, “As per the Chief Proctor’s Rules passed by the EC (Executive Council) and upheld by the courts, we have fined the student and served him summons for blocking the North Gate, the main gate of the university. There is a designated place for protests near Sabarmati.”

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The complainant said: “I have responded to this notice. I have received two regulatory requests and a request for comment from the Office of the Chief Supervisor. This shows that the administration is not punishing the guilty, but the survivors and their friends who demanded justice. They are punishing me because they do not want other survivors to speak out…”

Calls and messages from The Indian Express to Chief Proctor Sudhir Kumar Arya elicited no response.

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First uploaded on: 03-06-2024 at 12:33 IST