Sedition row: JNU refuses to make inquiry findings of event public

New Delhi, March 30

Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has refused to make public its findings in the preliminary inquiry conducted by three professors into the event that led to five students being charged with sedition.

The University refused to provide the information to activist Paras Nath Singh citing two clauses — Section 8(1)(g) and 8(1)(h) — of the RTI Act.

"The matter of incidents that took place on February 9, 2016 and subsequent developments relating thereto are under investigation at the University level,” the university said.

The first provision exempts information that could prejudice an ongoing inquiry from being disclosed and the second says information that endanger the life of a person or identify source of information or assistance given in confidence to law enforcement agencies could be withheld.

The University however gave no explanations on how the information would prejudice the inquiry — mandatory for such refusal after a high court order.

The applicant however dubbed the denial unlawful.

"It is provided under RTI that information which cannot be denied to Parliament or state legislature shall not be denied to any person. It may be noted that record of proceeding in Parliament leave no doubt that records of the case have already been furnished by JNU authorities to HRD minister which were extensively quoted in her replies and address," he said.

Five students had been charged with sedition for “antinational activities” at an event they held to mark the third death anniversary of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru on February 9. Police claim witnesses heard anti-India slogans at the event.

 Three — Kanhaiya Kumar, Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya — were arrested but later released on bail.

A report by a committee instituted by the university for an internal inquiry is believed to have imputed the “provocative” statements to some outsiders, although the university has so far neither confirmed nor denied the claims. — Agencies