The Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) is believed to be seeking legal opinion over punishment to a few students in connection with an event against the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru during which anti-national slogans were allegedly raised.
According to sources, the Chief Proctor’s office is seeking legal opinion on the quantum of punishment to the students in connection with the controversial February 9 event. If the authorities decide to press ahead with penal action against the students, it is likely to kick off a fresh round of protests.
While the university panel probing the issue had submitted its report on March 11, the varsity is yet to take a final call on the issue. “It is a sensitive issue and the university doesn’t intend to be unfair to anybody. Keeping the discipline norms in mind, the quantum of punishment will be decided, but it has to be made sure first that the penalty should be legally justified,” sources said.
After a high-level committee of the university found them “guilty” of “violating university norms and discipline rules”, show-cause notices were issued to 21 students on March 14, asking them to explain why disciplinary action should not be initiated against them.
The students had earlier refused to depose before the committee, demanding that the enquiry be started afresh.
The university, however, turned down the demand and maintained that the students will be given three chances to appear before the disciplinary committee and, if they fail to do so, the panel will finalise its recommendations on the basis of evidence available, eyewitness accounts, students’ deposition, if any, and other material available on hand.