The Jawaharlal Nehru University has been on a shutdown since Tuesday morning as protesting students are not allowing any kind of activities to take place on campus. Thousands of them have been protesting at the premises over various issues including a proposed hostel fee hike, electricity charges and mainly demanding the revocation of the 'regressive' draft hostel manual.
The strike is on its second day on Wednesday, and they are still protesting against arbitrary imposition of anti-students rules in the campus. Thousand of students across the schools and centres at the varsity participated in a poster making programme conducted by the JNUSU to send their demands and requests to the JNU administration.
The students' union has also declared Dean of Students Umesh Ashok Kadam 'out of bounds' in light of the recent events on campus. "Umesh Ashok Kadam. Professor, CHSJSSS, and Dean of Students has been found to be involved in anti-student activiues, including the illegal violation of the order of the Hon'ble High Court Judgement dated 170919, WP (C) 9707/2019. and the undemocratic and illegal passage of the Draft Hostel Manual 2019. These acts constitute a serious breach of the democratic ethos of the University and constitute Moral Turpitude, which is in violation of Section 31(c) of the The Jawaharlal Nehru University ACT OF 1966 (53 of 1966) & THE STATUTES OF THE UNIVERSITY (As modified upto 1st January. 2016). The Competent Authority thereby orders that Umesh Ashok Kadam, be declared to be out of bounds, with immediate effect. Anyone giving shelter to Umesh Ashok Kadam in any premises of the University shall be considered to be party to the offences of Mr Kadam. If he has to come to JNU for any academic purpose, he has to seek official permission from the Office of the JNU Students' Union, 10 days prior to the visit," said the official statement from JNUSU.
"This order was issued by the student's union on Wednesday after both the Vice Chancellor and Umesh Kadam refused to listen to the students and come and meet them even after two days of the strike," says Apeksha Priyadarshini, member of Bhagat Singh Ambedkar Students Organisation (BASO) and a Councillor in JNUSU.
The protests began in the first place as the JNU students' union alleged that the members were not called to the IHA meeting on Monday that took place to make decisions on certain relevant issues concerning the hostel timings, fees and more. As students forcibly tried to enter, the Dean Umesh Kadam left the venue citing some health issues caused due to the chaos. On Monday, some students had allegedly blocked an ambulance and stopped doctors from meeting the Dean, following which authorities threatened to take "severe action" against them. However, JNUSU denied indulging in any violence during the protest.
