JNU imposes fine over protest, claims students, varsity denies allegation

Students who have received notices, are student activists -- former JNU Sudents Union (JNUSU) vice president and PhD scholar Simone Zoya Khan and Kaushik Raj. Kaushik has been served notice for the 2018 protest in which, he claims, he was not even present.

JNU imposes fine over protest, claims students, varsity denies allegation

A group of students at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has claimed that the administration has imposed thousands of rupees fine on them for participating in protests and banned them from registering for the next semester. The students claimed that the amount of fine varies from INR 10,000 to 15,000, and accused the administration of harassment.

Meanwhile, JNU chief proctor Rajnish Kumar Mishra has denied the allegations, saying "the actions are taken after following due procedure."

Students who have received notices, are student activists -- former JNU Sudents Union (JNUSU) vice president and PhD scholar Simone Zoya Khan and Kaushik Raj. Kaushik has been served notice for the 2018 protest in which, he claims, he was not even present.

As per the official notification, Kaushik has been asked to submit INR 10,000 by September 5 on August 29 in any case. "...He is therefore directed to deposit the amount of INR 10,000. Otherwise, he may not be allowed to register during the coming semester until he gets clearance from the office," the notice signed by the chief proctor read.

While speaking to a media agency, Kaushik, who is in final year and is pursuing PhD, alleged that the fine imposed on him is erroneous as he was not present during the protest in 2018 where several students gathered in a seminar room against compulsory attendance.Kaushik fears that he will not be allowed registration for the new semester and all his hard work will go waste.

"I was not present during the protest. Even during the proctorial enquiry, I made the oral and written deposition that I was not present. Still I am being fined. I know five-six more students who have received a similar notice," Kaushik said.

Simone Zoya Khan, who is also in the last year of her PhD, said that the university is targeting student activists for organising demonstrations. Simone has also been served notice for the same 2018 protest. She was then JNUSU vice president.

Simone said "she could not take the risk and arranged the fine money as she has to submit her thesis this year."

"It is not fair. The university is targeting the students. Dozens of false and unfounded complaints are brought against students. The yearly fee at the varsity is INR 200-300 and they are levying a fine of INR 15,000. How is this fair?" Simone asked.

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