JNU: Regular Classes To Resume From January 13, Says Vice-Chancellor Jagadesh Kumar

Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) Vice Chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar has said that regular classes will resume from January 13. He also assured that all decisions taken earlier at HRD Ministry about hostel fee will be implemented in totality. The HRD ministry on Friday met with a five-member team from the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) administration, including Vice Chancellor Jagadesh Kumar. The emergency meeting has been called to discuss the situation on the campus and resolve the standoff between students and the administration. JNU's registrar and three rectors from the university are also part of the panel.

JNU administration has decided to waive off the utility and service charges for the hostel residents for the winter semester. The JNUSU has been demanding the rollback. The JNU circular, a copy of which is with News Nation, says that, "This is for further information of all concerned that Service and Utility charges for the hostel residents are not being charged during the current registration for 2020 Winter Semester."

The circular dated January 9 comes after the JNU students and teachers met the officials in HRD ministry to resolve the issue in Delhi on same day. However, the circular has been released on Friday. The circular puts on record that the decision was made after the meeting that was held in December last year.

"As per the record of discussion held in MHRD on resolving the JNU issue on 10/11 December 2019, UGC will bear the cost of Service and Utility charges proposed till further orders,” the circular said.

Meanwhile, three professors of the university approached the Delhi High Court seeking directions to preserve data, CCTV footage and other evidence relating to the January 5 violence at the varsity campus. The petition also sought directions for preservation and retrieval of all material/evidences available with WhatsApp INC, Google INC and Apple INC pertaining to relevant data of WhatsApp groups 'Unity Against Left' and 'Friends of RSS' including messages, pictures, videos and phone numbers of the members, in connection with the violence at JNU.

The petition was filed by JNU professors Ameet Parameswaran, Atul Sood and Shukla Vinayak Sawant seeking necessary directions to the Delhi Police Commissioner and Delhi government.

The petition, filed through advocates Abhik Chimni, Maanav Kumar and Roshni Naamboodiry, also sought a direction to the Delhi Police to retrieve all CCTV footage of JNU campus.

On Sunday, a mob of masked men stormed the campus and targeted students in three hostels, unleashing mayhem with sticks, stones and iron rods by hitting inmates and breaking windows, furniture and personal belongings.