JNU rusticated all 4 student union leaders. Here's why
At a time when universities across India are expanding digital surveillance in the name of safety, JNU's decision to rusticate its elected student leaders over an anti-facial recognition protest puts the spotlight back on privacy, dissent, and the future of campus democracy.
Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has rusticated all four office-bearers of the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU) and former union president Nitish Kumar for two semesters, following their alleged involvement in vandalism during a protest against facial recognition surveillance on campus.
Those rusticated include JNUSU President Aditi Mishra, Vice President Gopika K Babu, General Secretary Sunil Yadav, Joint Secretary Danish Ali, and former JNUSU president Nitish Kumar.
The university has also declared the students “out of bounds”, barring them from entering the campus with immediate effect.
The disciplinary action follows a proctorial enquiry into an incident in November last year, when students staged protests against the installation of Facial Recognition Technology (FRT) in academic spaces, including the Dr BR Ambedkar Central Library.
Protesters had termed the move “mass surveillance” and warned that it threatened privacy, academic freedom, and democratic engagement on campus.
OFFICE ORDER AND PENALITY
According to an office order issued by the Chief Proctor on February 2, Nitish Kumar, a PhD scholar from the Centre for Political Studies, has been rusticated for two semesters and fined Rs 20,000 for allegedly damaging university property.
The order stated that the enquiry committee found the students responsible for destroying facial recognition equipment installed inside the library.
University authorities have maintained that the action was taken in line with disciplinary rules and after following due process.
JNUSU ALLEGES POLITICAL TARGETING
The decision has drawn sharp criticism from the JNUSU and Left-backed student groups, who have described the move as an “unprecedented political crackdown” aimed at silencing dissent.
In a statement titled “Admin’s Crackdown on JNUSU”, the union accused the university administration and Vice Chancellor of acting under pressure from the RSS and the ruling BJP-led government.
“As expected, the JNU Vice Chancellor and administration have become mere stooges to the RSS-led Modi government,” the statement alleged.
TIMING RAISES QUESTIONS
JNUSU has also questioned the timing of the rustication, noting that it comes just ahead of planned protests, including a Mashaal Juloos and a Students’ Parliament, against the proposed stay on the UGC Promotion of Equity Regulations 2026.
According to the union, the action is intended to weaken student mobilisation and disrupt preparations for upcoming agitations.
'ATTACK ON CAMPUS DEMOCRACY'
Calling the orders “anti-student” and “undemocratic”, the union argued that the administration is attempting to remove elected representatives for raising students’ concerns.
“The rustication and out-of-bounds orders reflect an agenda to dismantle JNUSU, one of the few progressive student unions in the country,” the statement said, adding that disciplinary mechanisms cannot be used to curb political expression or student activism.
BACKGROUND TO THE PROTEST
The November protests were triggered by the installation of facial recognition systems in the library and other academic spaces. Student groups raised concerns over data protection, consent, and the potential misuse of surveillance technologies within a university environment.
The JNU administration, however, defended the move, citing security, access management, and campus safety as reasons for introducing the technology.
CALL FOR SOLIDARITY
JNUSU has called on students and supporters to stand in solidarity against what it termed a “targeted assault on campus politics”, stating that it would continue to oppose the orders through democratic means.
“This is an attempt to suppress voices that question the administration,” the union said.
Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has rusticated all four office-bearers of the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU) and former union president Nitish Kumar for two semesters, following their alleged involvement in vandalism during a protest against facial recognition surveillance on campus.
Those rusticated include JNUSU President Aditi Mishra, Vice President Gopika K Babu, General Secretary Sunil Yadav, Joint Secretary Danish Ali, and former JNUSU president Nitish Kumar.
The university has also declared the students “out of bounds”, barring them from entering the campus with immediate effect.
The disciplinary action follows a proctorial enquiry into an incident in November last year, when students staged protests against the installation of Facial Recognition Technology (FRT) in academic spaces, including the Dr BR Ambedkar Central Library.
Protesters had termed the move “mass surveillance” and warned that it threatened privacy, academic freedom, and democratic engagement on campus.
OFFICE ORDER AND PENALITY
According to an office order issued by the Chief Proctor on February 2, Nitish Kumar, a PhD scholar from the Centre for Political Studies, has been rusticated for two semesters and fined Rs 20,000 for allegedly damaging university property.
The order stated that the enquiry committee found the students responsible for destroying facial recognition equipment installed inside the library.
University authorities have maintained that the action was taken in line with disciplinary rules and after following due process.
JNUSU ALLEGES POLITICAL TARGETING
The decision has drawn sharp criticism from the JNUSU and Left-backed student groups, who have described the move as an “unprecedented political crackdown” aimed at silencing dissent.
In a statement titled “Admin’s Crackdown on JNUSU”, the union accused the university administration and Vice Chancellor of acting under pressure from the RSS and the ruling BJP-led government.
“As expected, the JNU Vice Chancellor and administration have become mere stooges to the RSS-led Modi government,” the statement alleged.
TIMING RAISES QUESTIONS
JNUSU has also questioned the timing of the rustication, noting that it comes just ahead of planned protests, including a Mashaal Juloos and a Students’ Parliament, against the proposed stay on the UGC Promotion of Equity Regulations 2026.
According to the union, the action is intended to weaken student mobilisation and disrupt preparations for upcoming agitations.
'ATTACK ON CAMPUS DEMOCRACY'
Calling the orders “anti-student” and “undemocratic”, the union argued that the administration is attempting to remove elected representatives for raising students’ concerns.
“The rustication and out-of-bounds orders reflect an agenda to dismantle JNUSU, one of the few progressive student unions in the country,” the statement said, adding that disciplinary mechanisms cannot be used to curb political expression or student activism.
BACKGROUND TO THE PROTEST
The November protests were triggered by the installation of facial recognition systems in the library and other academic spaces. Student groups raised concerns over data protection, consent, and the potential misuse of surveillance technologies within a university environment.
The JNU administration, however, defended the move, citing security, access management, and campus safety as reasons for introducing the technology.
CALL FOR SOLIDARITY
JNUSU has called on students and supporters to stand in solidarity against what it termed a “targeted assault on campus politics”, stating that it would continue to oppose the orders through democratic means.
“This is an attempt to suppress voices that question the administration,” the union said.