JNU bars 2 ex-students for casteist slurs at library

Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has taken disciplinary action after two ex-students who were found guilty of inscribing casteist slurs and derogatory remarks on a table in the Dr B.R. Ambedkar Central Library, the university said on Wednesday.

The incident occurred on 18 August.

An office order issued by the Chief Proctor on August 20 identified the individuals as Shivang Dubey and Yash, both ex-students and outsiders. They have been declared “out of bounds” from the entire JNU campus with immediate effect. The order also warned “anyone found giving shelter to the duo on university premises will face strict disciplinary action as per university rules.”

The university administration, through a separate notification, condemned the act, calling it a violation of JNU’s ethos of inclusion, equality and harmony.

“Taking cognisance of the gravity of the situation, the university has taken immediate action by declaring the two outsiders/ex-students involved in this incident out of bounds with immediate effect,” the notification stated.

The Registrar emphasised JNU’s zero-tolerance policy against such behaviour, stating, “The university reiterates its zero-tolerance policy towards any form of misconduct and urges everyone to uphold the values of inclusion and mutual respect.”

The notification also appealed to students, faculty and staff to remain vigilant and promptly report any unauthorised or suspicious activity to the Security Branch to prevent recurrence of such incidents.

The swift response highlights the administration’s firm stance on maintaining harmony and safeguarding the campus’s inclusive environment.