Jawaharlal Nehru University has issued a notice to a PhD student, directing her to appear before a proctorial committee on October 22 over allegations of manhandling security personnel and damaging property on campus, amid an ongoing hunger strike by students.
The notice, dated October 9, asks Aditi Mishra, president of the JNU Students' Union (JNUSU), to appear for a hearing at 3 pm in the administrative building and explain her position.
According to the notice, the Chief Proctor's office received a complaint alleging that Mishra had manhandled and misbehaved with security personnel and broken glass panes at the main gate of the Inter-Hall Administration (IHA) main gate and a window on September 8.
She has been asked to bring any evidence she wishes to submit in her defence. The notice also states that the matter may be decided in her absence if she fails to appear for the hearing.
It further mentions that Mishra has been rusticated and declared out of bounds from the campus under an office order dated February 2, and directs her to report to the security office at the north gate at 2.30 pm on October 22, from where security personnel will escort her to the Chief Proctor's office.
JNU students claimed that at least 10-12 other students had also received similar notices in connection with a protest held on September 8.
There was no immediate response from the university administration, and the number of notices issued could not be independently confirmed.
The development comes amid an ongoing hunger strike by JNUSU members over various demands, including the revocation of the rustication of union office-bearers, the resumption of the JNU entrance examination (JNUEE) and the restoration of the Gender Sensitisation Committee Against Sexual Harassment (GSCASH).