JNU permits students guilty in February 9 incident to vote in union polls

The names of the 21 students, who have been imposed varied penalties for their alleged role in the sedition row, were earlier dropped from the voter list for the JNUSU polls with the administration claiming that they need to pay their fine in order to be eligible to cast their franchise.

However, with the Delhi High Court ordering a stay on the punishments, the varsity has included their name in the list. “The proctor’s office has given permission to all of us to cast our votes in the union elections,” Rama Naga, former JNUSU General Secretary said.

Ishita Mana, the Election Commissioner for the JNUSU polls said the administrative officer of the respective schools of these students have granted permission to them and hence their names have been included in the voters list.

The appellate authority, which heard the pleas of the 21 JNU students who were penalised in connection with the controversial February 9 event, had found all of them guilty of indiscipline even as the financial penalty imposed on some of them has been reduced.

The 21 students were slapped with varied punishments ranging from rustication, hostel debarment to financial penalty on basis of the probe by the HLEC which found them guilty of violation of disciplinary norms.

Three students including JNUSU President Kanhaiya Kumar were arrested in a sedition case filed over the event on campus against hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru during which anti-national slogans were allegedly raised.

Delhi High Court had directed JNU to keep the punishments on hold until next hearing of the petition filed by the students.