The Delhi High Court has temporarily halted Jawaharlal Nehru University’s decision to impose a ₹19,000 fine on students accused of supporting protesters during an incident on campus.
Justice Jasmeet Singh, while hearing the students’ challenge, observed that merely expressing support for a demonstration—including through cheering—could not, on the face of it, be treated as an act of indiscipline warranting punishment.
The Court said students possess a valuable right to dissent, participate in demonstrations and express support for them, and that such expression cannot be curtailed without sufficient justification.
The proceedings arose from a show-cause notice issued by JNU’s Chief Proctor on January 15, 2026. The university subsequently passed orders on February 2 imposing fines, which were later upheld through appellate orders dated March 30.
The original allegations concerned an incident on November 21, 2025, during which some students were accused of aggressively shaking camera stands and damaging the university’s facial recognition technology system.
Three other students were alleged to have encouraged or supported those actions through clapping and sloganeering. The students disputed the allegations, maintaining that they had not participated in any vandalism and had, at most, been seen smiling at the protesters.
Justice Singh found that the students had established a prima facie case at this stage and consequently stayed the university’s orders imposing the penalties.
The Court stressed that the material placed before it did not, prima facie, show conduct that could properly be characterised as an act of indiscipline.
The matter will now proceed further as the students challenge the disciplinary action taken against them by the university.
