Delhi High Court orders JNU to maintain status quo on GSCASH

The Delhi High Court on Thursday asked the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) to maintain a status quo on the office of Gender Sensitisation Against Sexual Harassment (GSCASH) which was sealed by the varsity authorities.

A bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Harishankar sought the reply of the University and the University Grants Commission (UGC) on a plea filed by some teachers and students which challenged the disbanding of the sexual harassment panel.

The petition, which was mentioned on Wednesday, had opposed the quashing of the order superseding GSCASH by an internal complaints committee (ICC) and a Registrar's circular putting on hold the election of student representatives to it.

"It is directed that till the next date of hearing status quo shall be maintained regarding the sealing of the aforesaid office," the court said thereby listing the matter for October 31.

Appearing for the petitioners, senior counsel Indira Jaising informed the court that 25 complaints were pending before GSCASH and the court shall order freezing of documents and maintenance of records.

Additional Solicitor General Sanjay Jain, appearing for JNU, said the university was willing to preserve the records of the pending complaints and it will not proceed with any pending enquiry for the time being.

The JNU administration had ordered the dissolution of the independent body, GSCASH.