Left Parties Flay Rustication of JNUSU Leaders, Term it ‘Assault on Campus Democracy’

New Delhi: The Left parties on Monday sharply criticised the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) administration for rusticating the four elected office-bearers of the JNU Students’ Union (JNUSU) and its former president for two semesters for alleged vandalism, terming the move a “direct attack on the democratic fabric” of the university. The parties said that declaring the campus “out of bounds” for the student leaders and imposing heavy fines amounted to “collective punishment aimed at silencing dissent.”

In a joint press release, leaders from CPI(M), CPI, CPI(ML), Forward Bloc, RSP and CGPI condemned what they described as an authoritarian functioning of the university administration. They argued that the action was not merely directed at a handful of students but was meant to intimidate the larger student community and curb democratic expression on campus.

The joint statement was signed by Anurag Saxena of CPI(M), Dinesh Varshney of Communist Party of India, Ravi Rai of CPI(ML), Dharmendra of the Forward Bloc, R.S. Dagar of Revolutionary Socialist Party, and Birju Nayak of Communist Ghadar Party of India.

What is the Issue?

The controversy arises from disciplinary action taken by the JNU administration against the current JNUSU leadership and a former president following recent protests and confrontations on campus. The administration ordered the rustication of these students for two semesters, barred them from entering the campus, and levied substantial financial penalties.

Over the past few months, tension has been brewing in JNU over a series of administrative decisions, including the introduction of facial recognition technology in the university library and other measures that students and several teachers say were implemented without consultation.

Student groups claim that the new punishment is part of a growing pattern where protests are treated as misconduct rather than democratic participation.

The Left parties alleged that punitive measures in the name of maintaining discipline had become routine in JNU. “The administration has assumed the role of judge and executioner,” the statement said, warning that such actions weaken institutional mechanisms and damage the environment necessary for teaching and research.

They further criticised the lack of dialogue in the decision-making processes and said that major policy steps were increasingly being enforced without involving elected representatives of students and faculty bodies. According to them, “universities function best when there is debate, disagreement and collective resolution, not fear of reprisals.”

Demanding immediate relief, the Left parties called for the withdrawal of the rustication orders and fines imposed on the JNUSU office-bearers and the former president. They also renewed their appeal to the university’s Visitor to intervene and remove the current Vice-Chancellor, arguing that administrative accountability was essential for restoring normalcy and trust on campus.

The statement emphasised that JNU had historically been known for vibrant democratic traditions, which, they claimed, were now under strain. The parties pledged to continue supporting students and teachers in their struggle to defend academic freedom and democratic rights.

(Note: This is a translation of the original Hindi article with AI assistance)