JNU students not to reply to notices

JNU students who have been served show-cause notices by the varsity in connection with the controversial Feburuary 9 event have decided not to reply to the notice, terming the findings of the probe committee report as "spurious". Refusing to accept the findings of the five-member probe panel, the students are maintaining that there can't be a "show-cause" without "show-crime". The students had passed a resolution in this regard at a council meeting late last night. "We have communicated to the administration, how the committee has violated the principles of natural justice in the enquiry process. They have neither addressed our concerns nor has taken any step regarding this. Without addressing these concerns, no free and fair enquiry is possible," JNUSU Vice President Shehla Rashid Shora said. "The students have been issued show cause notices which hold them guilty. They have not even been given the entire report, despite repetitive demands. The accused students have not even been told the specific charges against them. When they don't know the crime what explanation will they give," she added. The JNU students union has resolved to oppose any disciplinary action based upon the findings of the allegedly "partial" and "biased" enquiry. The students have also alleged that the High Level Enquiry Committee (HLEC) is operating on the same pattern of the Hyderabad University's enquiry which "led to institutional murder of Rohith Vemula". After a high-level committee of the university, found them "guilty" of "violating university norms and discipline rules" show-cause notices were issued to 21 students on March 14 asking them to explain why disciplinary action should not be initiated against them. They have been given time till tomorrow to reply to the notices following which a final decision regarding the "quantum of punishment" will be taken by the administration. The students have called for a protest demo at the administration block tomorrow against the findings of the report and the functioning of the committee. .