JNUSU to begin stir over sexual harassment case

New Delhi: After a student alleged she was sexually harassed and went on strike urging swift action against the accused, Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union delivered an ultimatum on the matter to the university administration on Saturday. It demanded the barring into the campus by April 15 of the remaining two individuals accused by the girl and said failure to do so would result in JNUSU commencing a university strike from April 16.The girl student accused four individuals, including two former students, of sexually harassing her on the campus on March 31. While the JNU administration has announced an investigation into the charges, concerns have been raised about the alleged perpetrators roaming freely despite the ongoing investigation.JNUSU alleged in a statement on Saturday, “The JNU community stands united in condemnation following a disturbing case of sexual harassment perpetrated by ABVP goons on the intervening night of March 30 and 31.” The office of the chief proctor was compelled to open on March 31, a Sunday, to register the survivor's complaint under pressure of JNUSU. Subsequently, the campus was declared out of bounds to two perpetrators who weren’t students of the university. The other two accused, both students of JNU, continue to evade action.JNU vice-chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit told TOI, “We cannot resort to kangaroo justice. One of the accused, students claim, is teaching in JNU, but what I've heard from the chairperson is it’s not official teaching. In fact, an independent witness stated that the girl wasn’t even touched. Yet, I took the girl's allegations as gospel truth and barred two accused students. I was ready to file an FIR, but the student wasn’t prepared for it, so I didn't. One must follow the legal process, not block the main gate and organise a sit-in. They ended this today. The inquiry will be held April 15 as promised.”Earlier, JNUSU launched the ‘Suggest to Your Union, Demand from Admin’ campaign, soliciting student inputs on a charter of demands aimed at addressing issues affecting the student community. The demands encompass critical issues such as the opening of Barak hostel, streamlining of fellowship claims, ensuring accessibility for students with disabilities, reinstating the Gender Sensitization Committee Against Sexual Harassment and addressing infrastructure maintenance and hostel allotment issues.Besides, JNUSU also wants the merit-cum-means scholarship (MCM) raised from Rs 2,000 to at least Rs 5,000 a month, reinstating the Maulana Azad National Fellowship and reverting admissions from the Common University Entrance Test to JNU’s own admission tests.