Delhi High Court asks Kanhaiya Kumar to end students' hunger strike

NEW DELHI: The Delhi high court has said that it will hear writ petitions challenging the Jawaharlal Nehru University’s disciplinary action against students but they will have to end the agitation first. It asked JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar to immediately bring to an end the students’ indefinite hunger strike. The court also sought an undertaking from Kanhaiya that he will allow the university to function and there will be no agitation.

Justice Manmohan said, “You (Kanhaiya) can ‘articulate’ to the students sitting on hunger strike from past 16 days to end the agitation, allowing the university to ‘function properly’.

“They (JNU students) will have to end their agitations/strike. You will have to withdraw the strike immediately. No one should be on hunger strike.”

It further asked senior advocate Rebecca John, who was representing Kanhaiya, to ask him to speak to the students to end their strike. “You (Kanhaiya) are a ranger and if you speak to the students, they will abide by you and will end their strike. You withdraw this agitation as you can do it,” the court said, adding, “if you abide by our directions only then I will hear the petitions before me.”

“Have faith in judiciary. You will have to give an undertaking that you are going to end the strike and allow the college to function properly. You have to ensure that there is no agitation,” the judge observed.

The court further asked Kanhaiya’s counsel to pursue with them to end their strike. The counsel present in court on behalf of JNUSU president and others said they will coordinate with the students and will get back to the court. The court has adjourned the matter till further communication is received from the students’ leader. The court gave the directions during hearing of pleas by Kanhaiya and others challenging the university’s disciplinary action.

Apart from Kanhaiya, Ashwati A Nair, Aishwariya Adhikari, Komal Mohite, Chintu Kumari, Anwesha Chakraborty and two others had challenged the order of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) against them.