New Delhi: It's a major setback for Kanhaiya Kumar, Umar Khalid, Anirban Bhattacharya and two others as a high-level committee of JNU has recommended rustication of these students.
The recommendation of rustication has been given for their alleged role in a controversial event last month at which anti-national slogans were allegedly raised.
Here's how JNU's high-level committee reached a conclusion:-
Meeting of the university's top brass; show-cause notice issued
A meeting of the university's top brass chaired by the Vice Chancellor on Monday discussed the report following which the varsity issued show-cause notice to 21 students including Kanhaiya and Umar, who were found guilty of having violated university rules and discipline norms.
"As per the report some students were found guilty of violating the university rules and discipline norms. It was decided to issue show-cause notices to 21 of them and they have been given time till March 16," a senior university official said.
While the official did not divulge names of the students, highly-placed sources in the university said those issued show-cause notices include the eight students who were debarred earlier in connection with the case and ten of those about whom police had sought information from the university.
"There are standard provisions in the university rules to take action in such cases. The high level inquiry committee recommendations are based on the rules of discipline and proper conduct of JNU."
"On basis of the responses from the students, a final decision in this regard will be taken," the official said.
Difficulties faced by panel
The panel, which was granted three extensions before it finally submitted its report, also faced difficulties in the probe as students refused to depose before it demanding that the enquiry be constituted afresh.
The varsity, however, turned down the demand and maintained that the students will be given three chances to appear before the disciplinary committee and, if they fail to do so, the committee will finalise its recommendations on the basis of evidence available, eyewitness accounts, students' deposition, if any, and other material available on hand.
Committee
The committee was formed on February 10 to probe the event organised to protest hanging of Afzal Guru, the Parliament attack convict.
The high-level committee recommended rustication of five students after its investigation over a month's time.
Arrest of Kanhaiya, Umar, Anirban and others
Kanhaiya, Umar and Anirban were arrested on charges of sedition in connection with the programme. Kanhaiya was released on bail from Tihar on March 3 while Umar and Anirban are still in judicial custody.
