JNU denies media reports on rustication of students

New Delhi, March 15: Jawaharlal Nehru University on Tuesday denied media reports that a high-level inquiry committee had recommended the rustication of five students from the university.

"It is not true. Not at all...," Chief Proctor Ashok Dimri told IANS when asked if the media reports were correct.

"What the panel has recommended is a different issue. I've just received the report and will review it when the time comes. The students have been issued show-cause notices in which there are different clauses. But the media reports are not true," Dimri said.

"The quantum of punishment will be decided once I receive the responses to the show cause (notices)," he added.

On Monday, media reports said the panel had recommended the rustication of JNU Students Union president Kanhaiya Kumar, Umar Khalid, Anirban Bhattacharya and two other students for their alleged role in raising anti-national slogans on the campus on February 9.

Meanwhile, the JNU Teachers Association also said the media reports on rustication were false.

"These reports are completely false. The teaching community is going to demand from the JNU administration to set up an inquiry and find out who leaked the rumours in media. We want the media organisations which carried the report to disclose the name of the person who said this," JNUTA general secretary Professor Bikramaditya Chaudhury told IANS.

The committee - formed on February 10 - submitted its report last week. It comprises Professor Rakesh Bhatnagar, Professor Himadri Bohidar, Professor Suman K Dhar, Professor Ummu Salma Bawa and Professor GJV Prasad.

On Monday, 21 students were issued the show-cause notices.

"I am not authorised to speak on this matter (rustication). Speak to the vice chancellor or the public relations officer. They are the right people (to talk). A lot has been published wrongly in the newspapers... One should check their facts and do their homework before publishing anything...," Bhatnagar said earlier in the day.

IANS