The Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) administration has suspended all office-bearers of the JNU Students’ Union (JNUSU). This action follows a protest against the installation of Facial Recognition Technology (FTR) at the university’s Central Library on November 21, 2025. The JNUSU has strongly condemned the suspensions, labeling them an “attack” on the student body.
The university’s proctorial office also issued fines to other students, including Chandan, Arjun, Antariksh, and Daud. The disciplinary order alleges that student representatives damaged public property during the protest. The JNUSU denies these allegations, calling them “a complete lie.”
According to the JNUSU, the administration had previously given verbal assurances against installing FTR systems. However, the technology was reinstalled during the JNU elections in November 2025, which the JNUSU states violates these commitments.
JNUSU Alleges Selective Action
The JNUSU statement highlighted instances where the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) allegedly damaged university property without facing disciplinary action. The student union claims these actions sometimes created “life-threatening situations” for students, teachers, and officials.
Specific incidents cited by the JNUSU include:
- An ABVP member, Saurav Sharma, allegedly damaged the DoS office with flowerpots in 2016–17. He later reportedly received a faculty position.
- In 2022, the JNU administration block was ransacked by unidentified individuals, with no action taken to date.
- The JNUSU referenced the January 5, 2020, incident, stating that ABVP members caused damage, including to the gates of Sabarmati Hostel.
- Om Sinha, identified as an ABVP member and former president of ABVP SLL&CS, allegedly caused disruption during a school GBM in November 2025.
Administration Accused of Political Vendetta
The JNUSU pointed to the JNU Vice-Chancellor, calling her the “biggest culprit” in damaging the university to fulfill a “political agenda.” The student body claims this “selective amnesia” by the administration reflects a culture of “political vendetta” since the current Vice-Chancellor assumed office in 2016.
Reports indicate that five PhD students, including four JNUSU office-bearers, were rusticated. The university’s inquiry letters stated the group “forcibly pulled out the cameras and camera stands installed on the machines,” ignoring security personnel’s requests to stop. The JNUSU contends they are being punished for “resisting surveillance.”