JNU rusticates JNUSU office-bearers, former president over campus protest

Jawaharlal Nehru University has taken disciplinary action against the current leadership of the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union and a former union president, rusticating five students for two semesters over their alleged role in vandalism during protests against facial recognition surveillance on campus.

Those rusticated are JNUSU President Aditi Mishra, Vice President Gopika K Babu, General Secretary Sunil Yadav, Joint Secretary Danish Ali, and former JNUSU president Nitish Kumar.

The university has also declared them “out of bounds,” prohibiting their entry into the campus with immediate effect.

The decision follows a proctorial inquiry into protests held in November last year against the installation of Facial Recognition Technology in academic spaces, including the Dr BR Ambedkar Central Library.

Students opposing the move had described it as “mass surveillance,” arguing that it posed risks to privacy, academic freedom, and democratic participation within the university.

According to an office order issued by the Chief Proctor on Feb 2, Nitish Kumar, a PhD scholar at the Centre for Political Studies, has been rusticated for two semesters and fined ₹20,000 for allegedly damaging university property.

The order said the inquiry committee found the students responsible for destroying facial recognition equipment installed inside the library. University authorities said the action was taken under existing disciplinary rules and after due process.

The move has sparked strong opposition from JNUSU and Left-affiliated student organizations, which have labeled it an “unprecedented political crackdown.”

In a statement, “Admin’s Crackdown on JNUSU,” the union accused the university administration and the vice chancellor of acting under political pressure.

“As expected, the JNU Vice Chancellor and administration have become mere stooges to the RSS-led Modi government,” the statement alleged.

The union also raised concerns over the timing of the rustication, noting that it comes ahead of planned protests such as a Mashaal Juloos and a Students’ Parliament against the proposed stay on the UGC Promotion of Equity Regulations 2026.

According to JNUSU, the disciplinary action is intended to weaken student mobilization and disrupt preparations for upcoming demonstrations.

Describing the orders as “anti-student” and “undemocratic,” the union said the administration was targeting elected representatives for voicing student concerns.

“The rustication and out-of-bounds orders reflect an agenda to dismantle JNUSU, one of the few progressive student unions in the country,” the statement said, adding that disciplinary procedures should not be used to suppress political expression or student activism.

The November protests were triggered by the installation of facial recognition systems in the library and other academic areas, with student groups flagging concerns related to data protection, consent, and potential misuse of surveillance technology in a university setting.

The JNU administration has defended the introduction of the system, citing security, access control, and campus safety.

Calling for support, JNUSU urged students and allies to stand against what it described as a “targeted assault on campus politics,” stating that resistance to the orders would continue through democratic means.

“This is an attempt to suppress voices that question the administration,” the union said.