Delhi High Court today put on hold the disciplinary action taken by JNU administration against students Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya, accused of sedition in connection with a February 9 event, till their appeals against the decision are decided by the university’s appellate authority.
Justice Manmohan granted the protection to both the students who have sought the same relief that was given on May 13 to Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union (JNUSU) President Kanhaiya Kumar and others against whom disciplinary action was taken by the varsity after the row over the February 9 event this year.
While Khalid was rusticated for one semester and slapped with a fine of Rs 20,000, Bhattacharya was rusticated till July 15 and after July 23 he was barred from the university campus for five years.
The court said that protection granted to Khalid and Bhattacharya was conditional and the JNUSU would not indulge in any protest or dharna.