In a recent development at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), students now face significant fines for engaging in various protests and expressing dissent on campus. According to the newly implemented JNU Students’ Discipline and Conduct Rule, approved by the university’s highest decision-making body on November 24, students can be fined Rs 20,000 for resorting to violence, participating in Dharnas (sit-ins), and hunger strikes.
The Chief Proctor Office manual outlines the rules governing the discipline and conduct of JNU students, emphasizing the need for a review of existing regulations. The document indicates that a repeat offender may face expulsion if subjected to five or more punishments throughout their academic tenure.
The disciplinary measures cover 28 types of misconduct, including blockage, unauthorized hostel room occupation, gambling, use of offensive language, and forgery. Students engaging in hunger strikes, dharnas, or any form of protest obstructing academic or administrative complexes may be fined up to Rs 20,000.
Additionally, fines of up to Rs 6,000 may be imposed for organizing events without prior permission, with the alternative penalty of mandatory JNU Community Service. The rules also specify fines of up to Rs 10,000 for activities such as printing, circulating, or pasting derogatory religious, communal, casteist, or anti-national materials inciting campus intolerance.
The JNU Students Union has strongly condemned the new manual, asserting that it aims to suppress the vibrant campus culture that has defined the university for decades. The union argues that the stringent regulations discourage open discussions, dissent, and intellectual exploration—elements fundamental to the university’s spirit.
According to the union’s statement, the manual introduces severe consequences for protests near academic buildings, including rustication, hostel eviction, and fines. The administration is also granted the authority to fine students up to Rs 10,000 for any act deemed moral turpitude. This development has sparked concerns about the potential stifling of free expression and debate within the JNU community.
