Letter shows V-C gave police unfettered access to campus

The Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) vice-chancellor had allowed police to enter the university as they ‘may deem fit’, a communication between the JNU registrar office and Delhi Police shows.

The Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) vice-chancellor had allowed police to enter the university as they ‘may deem fit’, a communication between the JNU registrar office and Delhi Police shows.

JNU students protest inside the university campus. (PTI Photo)

This comes a day after V-C Jagadesh Kumar claimed that he did not give a free hand to the police to enter the campus and pick up students. “Police has sent a letter that an FIR has been registered and wanted our cooperation in accessing video/audio footage and gain entry to enquire about the incident. We only allowed them to enter as per the law to perform their duties,” he had said.

The letter dated February 11, Registrar, Bupinder Zutshi, said, “The vice-chancellor has granted permission to the police force to enter the JNU campus if need be and as you may deem fit.”

The university is facing criticism from teachers and students for granting free access to police to enter the campus and conduct indiscriminate searches and arrest.

The letter also said that security staff has been told to use CCTV cameras and cell phone cameras to record any such incident.

The letter was sent in response to a communication from the Delhi Police on February 11. In the letter, Prem Nath, DCP (south) sought permission from the V-C to enter the JNU premises to take necessary steps and to use video coverage for covering the activities of such acts/expressions of sedition and anti-national speeches for legal action.

The DCP’s letter to V-C said that anti-national sentiments were voiced by some groups of students of the varsity on February. The DCP had requested the JNU authorities to inform them regarding “anti-national expressions and seditious speeches”.

Apart from seeking permission to enter the JNU campus, DCP Prem Nath also asked the V-C to fix faulty CCTV cameras on the campus and brief security staff to use available video cameras to record any such events.

“…you are also requested to install CCTV cameras at the entry/exit points and strategic locations in the interest of safety and security of the university campus,” the letter by the DCP said.