JNU bars Rama Naga, 20 other students from voting in union polls

New Delhi, Aug 30: JNU students who were found guilty of violating university norms in connection with the controversial February 9, 2016 incident will not be able to cast their votes in the student union polls before they pay their fines.

The names of the 21 students, who have been imposed varied penalty for their alleged role in the sedition row, have been dropped from the voter list for the student union polls scheduled on September 9.

"When the voter lists were put up today by the election commission of JNU we found that our names are not included in the list. As per the standard provision, we went to the administrative officer to get our names included in the list but were told that they have struck off our names because of fines pending against us in the February 9 incident," JNUSU member Rama Naga said.

"The administration has been creating hurdles in our academic activities for the last six months. The punishment order was issued to us on August 23, 2016 and the 15-day time frame given to us to pay the fines is yet to expire. We also have the option to go to court against the decision," he added.

JNUSU joint secretary Saurabh Sharma, who is the lone ABVP member in the union, levelled similar allegations.

The election commissioner for the JNUSU polls said the poll body has no role to play in the matter and concerned students need to get clearance from the administrative officers (AOs) of their respective departments to get their names included in the list.

"There are laid down procedures for the same and I am legally bound to follow them. Unless the AOs give clearance I cannot include their names in the list. So they should submit their complaint or request to their respective departments," Ishita Mana, the newly appointed chief election commissioner for the polls said.

The appellate authority, which heard the pleas of the 21 JNU students who were penalised in connection with the controversial February 9 event, had last week found all of them guilty of indiscipline even as the financial penalty imposed on some of them has been reduced.

The 21 students were slapped with varied punishments ranging from rustication, hostel debarment to financial penalty on basis of the probe by the HLEC which found them guilty of violation of disciplinary norms.

Three students including JNUSU President Kanhaiya Kumar were arrested in a sedition case filed over the event on campus against hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru during which anti-national slogans were allegedly raised.

The schedule for the JNUSU elections was announced on Monday and the last date to file nominations is Wednesday.

PTI