Delhi Police has initiated legal action by registering a case following a protest at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) where allegedly provocative slogans were raised. The incident occurred outside the Sabarmati Hostel on Monday night, leading to a formal complaint from the university's administration.
JNU's Official Complaint and Police Action
On Tuesday, the Chief Security Officer of JNU filed a complaint with the police, prompting immediate action. The Vasant Kunj (North) police station registered a case after seeking legal opinion. The charges have been filed under specific sections of the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
The case has been registered under Sections 352 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace), 353(1) (statements conducing to public mischief), and 3(5) (common intention) of the BNS. Notably, these sections are classified as non-cognizable and bailable offenses.
Allegations of Hate Speech and Contempt
In its detailed complaint, JNU administration asserted that the slogans chanted during the protest amounted to "hate speech" and were in clear violation of the university's code of conduct. The complaint emphasized that such actions had the potential to severely disrupt public order and harmony within the campus, threatening the overall safety and security environment of the institution.
Furthermore, the university's complaint made a serious allegation, stating the protest actions represented "a direct contempt of the Supreme Court of India." Based on these claims, the university authorities formally requested the registration of a First Information Report (FIR).
How the Protest Escalated
According to the complaint, the gathering initially seemed to be a peaceful commemoration involving 30-35 students, marking the anniversary of the campus violence that occurred in January 2020. However, the nature of the event reportedly changed dramatically.
The shift happened subsequent to a judicial verdict concerning the bail pleas of activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam. It was at this point that certain participants began raising slogans described as "highly objectionable, provocative and inflammatory."
The complaint added that these slogans were "audible, deliberate and repeated," indicating a pattern of intentional misconduct rather than any spontaneous or accidental expression. This deliberate repetition formed the basis for the allegation of conscious wrongdoing by the participants.
The case remains under investigation as Delhi Police examines the complaint and the events of Monday night. The filing of this case highlights ongoing tensions and the strict legal scrutiny applied to protests within university campuses, especially those involving alleged hate speech and challenges to judicial authority.
