JNU rusticates student activist

Swati Singh at the JNU campus before the JNUSU poll in 2024.
| Photo Credit: FILE PHOTO

The Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has rusticated PhD student Swati Singh, president of the Democratic Students’ Federation (DSF) and former councillor of the JNU Students’ Union (JNUSU). An order from the university on April 28 reads, “In view of the findings of the proctorial inquiry, Swati Singh is rusticated from the university and declared out of bounds with immediate effect.” This is a fresh disciplinary action that comes despite a Delhi High Court order earlier this year setting aside a similar punishment.

The university said that in compliance with the High Court’s February 7 directive, a fresh inquiry was initiated against Ms. Singh, a student at the Centre for Russian Studies, School of Language, Literature and Culture Studies, that found her guilty of “being involved in an argument and physical violence with a lady security guard of the JNU on 29 August 2023”.

In a statement, the newly sworn in JNUSU, that has two members from the DSF in the central panel, said that Ms. Singh’s rustication represents a larger attack on the right to dissent and protest on campus. “The JNU administration’s clampdown on dissent on campus is reflective of a larger attack on voices that speak truth to power,” the statement said. The union submitted a memorandum to the JNU VC making an appeal to revoke the rustication order and end the “targeting” of student activists.

The university in its order has warned that “anyone giving shelter to Swati Singh in any hostel/residence in the campus shall invite disciplinary action”.