Delhi HC sets aside JNU disciplinary action against Kanhaiya Kumar, Umar Khalid and 13 others

 In a significant decision, the Delhi HC on Thursday set aside disciplinary action taken by JNU against 15 of its students, including ex-JNUSU President Kanhaiya Kumar, in connection with a controversial event on February 9 last year in the varsity.

Justice V K Rao has asked  Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) to hear the matter afresh after allowing the students to inspect the records and hearing them. The court told JNU's appellate authority to pass a reasoned order within six weeks of hearing the students, who also included Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya, that the varsity did not give them due opportunity to defend themselves against the charge of indiscipline. The students in their pleas had also challenged their punishment, which ranges from rustication for a few semesters to withdrawal of hostel facilities.

JNU had rusticated Umar from JNU till December this year, while Bhattacharya was expelled from campus for five years. Post the event on campus against hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru during which anti-national slogans were allegedly raised, Kanhaiaya and its associates landed in an eye of storm. They also were arrested in sedition charges though were freed later. 

With PTI inputs