Umar Khalid, Anirban Bhattacharya move HC for same relief given to Kanhaiya,others

NEW DELHI: Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya, who were rusticated from JNU, have moved Delhi High Court seeking the same relief that was extended to JNUSU President Kanhaiya Kumar and others against whom disciplinary action was taken by the varsity for a controversial event there on February 9 this year.

Justice Manmohan on May 13 had put on hold the decision of the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) till the appeals of Kanhaiya and the other students, against the disciplinary action, were decided by the appellate authority of the varsity.

The court had issued the direction after Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union (JNUSU) undertook to immediately withdraw its hunger strike and not to indulge in any further agitation.

The court in its order had also said if the appeals of the students were rejected, then the order of appellate authority would not be given effect to till a period of two weeks.

Anirban and Umar, who along with Kanhaiya have been accused of sedition for what happened during the February 9 event, had moved the court on May 9 against their rustication from the varsity, a decision which was taken on the basis of recommendations of a high level enquiry committee (HLEC).

While Umar was rusticated for one semester and slapped with a fine of Rs 20,000, Anirban was rusticated till July 15 and after July 23 he was barred from the university campus for five years. Anirban was only given a week between July 16-22 to complete his thesis.

However, on May 10 when their matter was taken up, JNU had agreed in court to extend the date of deposit of fine, by Umar, to May 30.