HC holds JNUSU chief, others guilty of contempt of court
New Delhi, July 3: The Delhi High Court on Tuesday held JNU Students Union members, including its President Geeta Kumari, guilty of contempt of court for violating an order that barred them from protesting near the administrative building on the campus.
"On the basis of the photographs and admissions made by the respondents (JNUSU leaders), they did congregate/held protests in the administrative block, which is in wilful violation of court order dated August 9, 2017," Justice V. Kameswar Rao said.
The court, while taking into consideration that the said students are pursuing higher studies and are on the threshold of their careers, said that the interests of justice would be served if a fine of Rs 2,000 is imposed on each of them.
The court directed them to deposit the fine with the court Registrar General within two weeks.
The court order came on a university contempt plea for action against the erring students for violating court order that barred them from protesting within 100 metres of the university's administrative building.
In February, the students had protested against the new attendance rule and allegedly blocked the way of staff who wished to enter the Jawaharlal Nehru University administrative block here.
The students were on strike against the new attendance rule, according to which they would have to forfeit their hostel accommodation and scholarships/fellowships if they fail to achieve 75 per cent attendance.
The court turned down the defence of the students that the protests have not resulted in any obstruction.
"... the respondents (JNUSU) have, in fact, re-argued the writ petition by contending that they have a right to protest, that too at the administrative block... in other words, an attempt has been to justify their conduct," the court noted.
The court observed that during the arguments, the students union has not expressed any regret or remorse for violating the orders.
"The interpretation sought to be given to the order by the learned counsel for the respondents is only an attempt to wriggle out of their contemptuous acts," the court said.
The JNUSU, in a statement, said that it will explore remedies against the said court order as it resolved to fight what it called an "authoritarian" university administration.
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After arriving from Delhi, Shinde heads to his native village; Mahayuti meet likely on Sun
Mumbai(PTI): Outgoing Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who returned to Mumbai from New Delhi on Friday morning, is travelling to his native village in Satara district amid continuing suspense over his successor a week after the assembly poll results.
Shinde had told reporters in New Delhi on late Thursday night that the next meeting of the Mahayuti alliance on government formation will be held in Mumbai on Friday.
However, the caretaker CM, who heads the Shiv Sena, is travelling to his native village Dare in Satara district in western Maharashtra and the meeting is now expected to take place on Sunday, the sources said.
The Shiv Sena leader has repeatedly said he would not be an obstacle in the government formation and abide by the decisions taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah on the next chief minister.
Different viewpoints are emerging in the Shiv Sena over Shinde's place in the next government to be headed by the BJP, the biggest constituent in the Mahayuti, which posted a thumping win in the just-held assembly polls.
Many leaders in the Shiv Sena are asking Shinde to accept deputy CM's post if offered by the BJP. However, another section feels it wouldn't be right for him to accept No. 2 position after serving as CM for more than two-and-a-half years, the sources said.
"The government formation process will start after the BJP announces its legislature party leader," they said.
During his Delhi trip, Shinde had met Shah and discussed formation of the next government in the state. His deputies in the outgoing state cabinet Devendra Fadnavis (BJP) and Ajit Pawar (NCP) had also met the senior BJP leader.
Talking to reporters in the national capital, Shinde called the discussion “good and positive”.
Shinde, Fadnavis and Pawar had also met BJP president J P Nadda.
