In a significant escalation, the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) administration has formally approached the police, seeking legal action against members of its students' union and other scholars. The complaint stems from a demonstration held on Monday night outside the Sabarmati Hostel, where participants allegedly chanted slogans deemed highly provocative.
Protest Context and Alleged Slogans
The gathering was organized by the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) with a dual purpose. It aimed to mark the sixth anniversary of the January 5, 2020, violence that shook the campus and to voice opposition to a recent Supreme Court judgment. The apex court had denied bail to former JNU students Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam. According to the university's complaint filed with the Vasant Kunj police, the protest took an inflammatory turn when students began shouting slogans targeting the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister.
University's Serious Accusations and Legal Stand
The institution has labeled these chants as "hate speech" that blatantly violates the established JNU Code of Conduct. In its detailed complaint, the administration argued that such actions possess the dangerous potential to disrupt public order, shatter campus harmony, and compromise the overall security environment of the university. Striking a strong legal posture, the complaint further described the act as "a direct contempt of the Honorable Supreme Court of India." Consequently, the university has urged the police to register a First Information Report (FIR) under the appropriate sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
In an official statement released on Tuesday, the JNU administration confirmed it had taken "very serious cognisance" of videos from the Sabarmati protest circulating online. The competent authority has directed the university's security branch to provide full cooperation with the impending police investigation. The statement emphasized the critical need to distinguish between legitimate dissent and abuse that crosses into hate speech, which can incite public disorder.
Ongoing Legal Troubles for Student Leaders
This recent complaint adds to the existing legal challenges faced by the named JNUSU members. They are already implicated in a separate police case filed by the university last year. That earlier complaint accused them of damaging a facial-recognition-based entry gate at the JNU library during a different protest. As the situation develops, a formal response from the JNUSU regarding the latest allegations is still pending.
The incident highlights the continuing tensions on the prestigious campus, juxtaposing student activism and protest rights against the administration's mandate to maintain order and comply with national legal frameworks. The police's decision on registering the FIR will be the next crucial step in this unfolding dispute.
