Jawaharlal Nehru University has formed a four-member panel to "discuss issues related to students and teachers who have been on hunger strike", reported The Indian Express. University students Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya have moved the Delhi High Court against the university probe panel's decision to rusticate them, reported The Times of India. The court will consider their petition on Tuesday.
Students have been protesting against the report and the punishment meted out for the controversial event on February 9 to mark the death anniversary of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru. The strike has been going on since the announcement of the panel's findings on April 27.
“Solutions can be found only through peaceful dialogue and discussion and not through measures that can also have long-term impact on health and adversely affect the academic life on campus. The administration yet again appeals the students to end their strike and come forward to hold discussion of their demands,“ the university said in a statement. However, the students union is yet to decide whether they want to enter into negotiations with the administration.
An inquiry commission had been set up by the university to look into incidents that led to a major unrest and arrest of a few students in February. The panel found several students , including JNU Students' Union President Kanhaiya Kumar, Khalid and Bhattacharya guilty and imposed fines on them, besides barring students from the university for varying periods of time.
The committee asked Bhattacharya to stay out of campus until July 15, then come in for a few days and again keep out from July 23 for five years. Khalid has been asked to pay Rs 20,000 as fine. He has been expelled as well.
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