JNU slaps notice on students for posters on ‘lack’ of hostel facility

The Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) administration on Friday issued show-cause notices to students allegedly involved in putting up posters across the campus to highlight the “lack” of hostel facility in the university.

In response to the notice, students staged a demonstration outside the Vice-Chancellor’s office alleging that the “spate of show-cause notices” issued by the administration in past few days was “disturbing”.

“According to the report received from the Chief Security Officer, posters were pasted on the issue of non-availability of hostels. You are directed to appear before the Proctor and explain your position in this regard,” the notice read.

This is the third incident in the past 15 days on which show-cause notices have been issued by the university. The other two being burning of effigies of Gujarat government  and burning an effigy of PM Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah on Dussehra.

While the administration maintained it was a “cautious” step to maintain discipline on campus, especially after the controversial February 9 event, the students alleged it was an attack on the “free” culture in JNU. “We are extremely concerned at the spate of show-cause notices being served by the administration to student activists for holding peaceful democratic protests against atrocities by cow vigilantes or celebration of labour day,” a statement issued by the JNU Students’ Union said.

The statement claimed that student activists were being “systematically targeted” for their opposition to ideologies and politics patronised by the government, which was “deeply deplorable”, especially on a campus like JNU’s where “debate and dissent have always been cherished”.

“We are not going to accept this regime of permissions and surveillance on protests and public meetings that has never had any place in JNU,” it added.

The university has been at the centre of controversy since February when anti-national slogans were allegedly raised during an event on campus leading to arrest of three students under sedition charges.