Why did not JNU approach court against students blocking admin dept, questions HC

The Delhi High Court on Friday questioned Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), saying that why the premiere varsity has not yet approached the court if access to the administrative block of the varsity was blocked by the students since February 9.

The question was asked by Justice V K Rao to JNU's counsel while hearing a plea by five students of the varsity that they be provided their marksheets and certificates as they want to apply for various courses and jobs.

When the court asked the varsity to provide the documents, central government standing counsel Monika Arora, appearing for JNU, said that police assistance would be required to enter the administrative block.

"Even the Vice Chancellor is not able to enter his office," she said. "I am sorry. What is this? Why has the university not come yet? Is this not a grievance of the university? If the university is sitting silent, then I will say just give them the documents," Justice Rao said and asked JNU's lawyer to take instructions on why the varsity has not yet moved court and listed the matter for further hearing on February 20.

Apart from their documents, the five students in their plea have also sought removal of the protesters and restoration of functioning of the varsity's administrative block. In their plea, filed through advocate Pradeep Arya, they have contended that no protest can be staged within 20 metres of the administrative and academic complexes as per JNU's Academic Rules and Regulations.

The students -- Naveen Kumar Singh, Gaurav Kumar, Chandraveer Singh Bhati, Shivendra Kumar Pandey and Ashish Kumar Singh -- have claimed that since February 9, 2017, 150-200 students have surrounded the admin block to protest against a May 2016 notification of the University Grants Commission as per which there is a limit of eight students per professor for MPhil and PhD courses.

The appellants, who claim to be pursuing MPhil and PhD courses from the varsity, have alleged that the admin block had been locked from outside and inside by the protesting students. They have sought police protection for varsity officials so that they can enter the administrative block and get the documents which the petitioners want.

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