Varsity suspends student, slaps out of bounds notice; AISA calls it draconian act

The Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) administration has suspended a student named Manikant, declaring him out of bounds and imposing a fine of Rs 15,000. The action has drawn sharp criticism from the All India Students Association (AISA), which termed it an “attempt to silence student voices.”

The AISA alleged that instead of addressing student concerns such as the shortage of seating spaces and reading rooms, the university administration was “spending money to create a discourse of legal and illegal”. The student group also accused the administration of ignoring repeated demands to restore access to JSTOR (Journal Storage) and other academic publications.

In a statement, the AISA said, “Instead of engaging with JNUSU and restoring basic academic facilities, the administration is busy issuing fines, rustication and out of bound notices to our comrades. We will not stand silent. Repeal this draconian CPO manual and take back the fines and rustication orders.”

Reacting to the action, Manikant said, “This suspension is not just about me, it’s about the university’s attempt to curb student activism and dissent. We will continue to raise our voices for a democratic and inclusive campus, no matter how many notices they issue.”

A university official defended the action, saying it was taken in accordance with the university’s ‘Code of Conduct for Students’ to maintain discipline and ensure a conducive academic environment.

“The university administration cannot tolerate actions that disrupt campus order or violate institutional norms,” the official said.