The Delhi High Court on Thursday directed Delhi Police to ensure that the Vice Chancellor of the Jawaharlal Nehru University…
The Delhi High Court on Thursday directed Delhi Police to ensure that the Vice Chancellor of the Jawaharlal Nehru University and other officials are not stopped from entering or exiting the varsity's administrative block.
It also directed that any 'dharna' or protest at the university shall be held peacefully but not within 100 metres of the administrative block and ordered the Delhi Police to ensure compliance of the two directions by use of its officers, if necessary.
Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva, however, sensitised the senior police officers present in court about the manner in which they have to deal with the students if there is any untoward incident.
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The court also issued notice to the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union (JNUSU) and sought presence of their office bearers on the next date to explain the reason for their agitation.
The union's office bearers' presence was required as the judge was of the view that "the issue pertains to a university and the relation between the university and students" and the problem should be resolved by dialogues and mediation and not by adjudication.
"I feel, the issue instead of being strictly adjudicated should be resolved by way of dialogue, mediation and counselling," the judge said.
The students are protesting the recent amendments made in the JNU admission policy which they claim will lead to a massive cut in M.Phil and Ph.D seats.
The admission policy was framed subsequent to a University Grants Commission (UGC) notification of May 5 last year capping the number of students per supervisor in M.Phil and Ph.D courses.
The JNU administration, which had come to court against the blocking of its administrative block by agitating students, said the "university will install CCTV cameras in and around the administrative building" to step up security.
The court directed JNU to preserve 30 days footage of the cameras and to make it available to local police, if required or demanded by them. .
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