Delhi HC says JNU Students' Union should be present at all important meetings from now on

In a major victory for JNU students, the Delhi High Court has said that the members of the Students' Union will have to be a part of important meetings. The Delhi High Court on Wednesday, March 20, quashed the Jawaharlal Nehru University Executive Council's resolution to ban the JNU Students' Union (JNUSU) from participating in statutory meetings. The matter has been referred to the Grievance Redressal Cell.

JNUSU President N Sai Balaji said that this is a victory for democracy and the first step towards their victory over 'fascist forces'. "The JNU administration, under the influence of Modi, has been destroying democracy in India. Mamidala, replicating Modi has been destroying democracy in JNU. In that line, Sakshi Maharaj statement said that there will be no elections in 2024 if the BJP wins this Lok Sabha poll. Mamidala was trying to get that implemented in JNU where a democratically elected JNUSU with a double mandate defeated ABVP and Mamidala's alliance with not just 100 or 200 votes but more than 1300 votes," said Balaji. "So, in order to save themselves from the backlash the administration undemocratically and authoritatively stopped JNUSU from participating in official meetings, which was unconstitutional, irrational and completely fascist. Today, this a victory for democracy against fascism."

The JNU administration had barred the students' union from attending academic council meetings in July last year. "The Executive Council cannot take the decision to ban us from meetings whatever be the ground. It's the Grievance Redressal Cell's decision. We had moved the court in this regard and the verdict provided an interim relief allowing us to attend meetings till the Grievance Redressal Cell finalises on a decision," said Balaji.

The JNUSU is also on a hunger strike to protest the administration's 'anti-student' policies since Monday, March 18. In a statement, the JNUSU has stated that the administration is bringing in new policies where the sole agenda is to 'discredit education and all social inclusive policies'.

The policies that the JNUSU are fighting against is the administration's decision to stop the BA lateral entry programme and delinking MPhil and PhD programme. They are also demanding that the University re-introduce the deprivation point system and also stop online exams and the MCQ format of entrance exams. Protest and demonstrations were also been banned on Delhi University campus in February 2019.