Delhi HC stays penalty on Kanhaiya till September 19

NEW DELHI: “I am a political activist, right or wrong, and I should not be silenced like this,” Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union president Kanhaiya Kumar

NEW DELHI: “I am a political activist, right or wrong, and I should not be silenced like this,” Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union president Kanhaiya Kumar said on Tuesday, while reacting to the findings of the university’s appellate authority holding him guilty of indiscipline.

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Kanhaiya has been held guilty by the university in connection to a controversial February 9 event on the JNU campus in which “anti-India” slogans were allegedly raised.

Senior counsel Rebecca John told the Delhi High Court that her client, Kanhaiya, has been asked to deposit a fine of ` 10,000 and give an undertaking to not take part in any “unauthorised event” and “ensure that there is no breach of discipline”.

To be asked not to be present where illegal activities are going on is ‘excessive’, John said, adding a university of this stature is fighting with its students like this.

Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva asked the university to not take any action, including making Kanhaiya pay the fine, till September 19, the next date of hearing. In the meantime, the university has been asked to submit its response before the court on Kanhaiya’s petition.

On Monday, the high court had provided similar relief to Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya, who were also among 21 students found guilty by the appellate authority.

Justice Sachdeva also told the university not to act against seven other students who have moved the high court against the finding of the appellate authority.