The Delhi High Court has directed the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) to refrain from imposing coercive measures in order to ensure mandatory attendance while the matter is subjudice.
The court was adjudicating on a writ petition filed by JNU’s School of Arts and Aesthtics Dean Ms. Kavita Singh and four others against the mandatory attendance police, as per the JNU Teachers’ Association (JNUTA). Through the petition, the petitioners contested the legality of the decision regarding their suspension, as well as the decision on attendance by the 144th AC meeting held on 1 December 2017.
The court added, “Needless to state that the above direction shall be subject to the outcome of the petition, and no equities shall be created in favour of the students, in the event, the court uphold the decision of the JNU.”
In December 2017, the university management had issued a circular saying it was planning to make 75% attendance for all courses compulsory. Students and many sections of faculty had called it an “arbitrary move”. Over 90% students had voted against mandatory attendance in a referendum conducted in March.
In March, the University removed seven of the faculty members who had complained against the rule. However, the next month, the Delhi High Court reinstated a dean and four other department heads.
As per the new rules, “all research students are to sign an attendance register daily whether or not they live on campus and regardless of the nature of their research work”. The JNUTA claimed that the university said that students who didn’t comply with the new rules would be debarred from taking examinations, availing fellowships and scholarships, retaining seats in hostels or having access to medical facilities. Apart from this, the university has also been trying to impose harsh rules related to fellowships and scholarships, withdrawal of hostel seats etc.
The next hearing has been posted for October 29.