The Delhi HC on 13 December passed an order against a plea filed by JNU, seeking contempt action against the students and Delhi police for violating the court’s order. The bench headed by Justice AK Chawla expressed it as ‘shocking’ that the JNU moved a contempt plea without mentioning the details of the students involved in the violation of the court’s order.
The petition filed by Jawaharlal Nehru University alleged that the students have violated the High Court’s order passed on 9 August 2017 by holding a protest within 100 meters of the administrative block and interrupting with the day-to-day working. It further stated that the police refused to take any action against blockade around the administrative block.
“The protests by the contemnor students have not been peaceful and have been carried out on a large scale with the sole intention of bringing the working of the university to a standstill” stated the petition, filed by the central government’s standing counsel Monika Arora.
The 9 August 2017 order of the High Court prohibited any protests within a 100 meters radius of the Administrative Block. The court further supervised the Delhi Police to ensure safety measures in violation of the same by the students.
The court on Thursday directed that the Vice-Chancellor, Registrar and Administrative Staff would be permitted to conduct their day to day work in the administrative office. It also directed the police to clear the protests in the 100 meters area surrounding the administrative block. Further, the University was asked to submit the names of the students who were protesting within a 100 meters radius of Administrative Block, in violation of the court’s order.
