Calcutta HC asks Jadavpur University to file affidavit on "secessionist" slogans in campus

The Calcutta High Court on Friday asked Jadavpur University to file an affidavit on "secessionist" slogans raised in the campus.

Hearing a plea filed by BJP leader Krishanu Mitra, a division bench of Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice Arijit Banerjee asked the state-run varsity's Vice Chancellor Suranjan Das to submit an affidavit in the court on the issue within four weeks. Slogans in favour of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru were raised in a rally brought out by a section of Jadavpur University students last week to express solidarity with their JNU counterparts agitating against the arrest of JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar for alleged sedition.

Slogans were also raised demanding "freedom" for Kashmir, Manipur and Nagaland. Posters were also found in the campus on the same demands. In his petition, Mitra prayed before the court seeking an action taken report from the University authorities against what he described as anti-national and secessionist slogans.

Governor K N Tripathi, also the Chancellor of the University, has already sought a report from the VC over the incident. Das had earlier said he would take action as per rules and regulations of the University.