Jawaharlal Nehru University students and administration clash over hunger strike

A dispute has emerged at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) regarding an ongoing hunger strike by students, including rusticated members of the JNU Students’ Union (JNUSU). The protesters are demanding the revocation of their rustication.

University administration, led by Vice-Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit, stated that two rounds of discussions were held on October 9 and October 14. The administration maintains that medical care is being provided to all participants, including rusticated students, through twice-daily health check-ups conducted by the Chief Medical Officer. The university also defended the rustication, alleging the students caused approximately Rs 20 lakh in damage to public property and violated bail conditions.

Conversely, the JNUSU has accused the Vice-Chancellor of making misleading claims. The union alleges that rusticated office-bearers were denied medical check-ups during the first six days of the protest and were instead monitored via a private laboratory. The union also questioned the timing of the Vice-Chancellor’s visit to the protest site on October 16, suggesting it was intended to downplay the scale of the agitation.