Students at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) vandalized newly installed face recognition devices at the Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Central Library on Friday. The JNU Students’ Union led the protest. Students claimed the biometric tracking systems violated their personal privacy.
Student Protest and Allegations of Privacy Breach
Videos circulating on social media captured the incident. Students were seen breaking and dismantling the new equipment. They also uprooted devices from their installations. Protesters chanted "Lal Salaam" during their actions. Security personnel attempted to halt the damage. However, student protests intensified, leading to heated arguments as the destruction of university property continued.
Sunil Yadav, General Secretary of the JNU Students’ Union, made strong allegations. He stated the administration installed the devices "secretly." Yadav emphasized this installation occurred during the student union election period. He pointed out a specific procedural lapse: a university committee, formed to examine the face recognition system, had not yet submitted its report. This implied a lack of official approval or student consultation.
Yadav further criticized the university’s priorities. He highlighted numerous existing problems within the library. These issues include inadequate seating capacity for students. Other problems involved broken furniture, insufficient water facilities, and the absence of a dedicated reading room. Yadav asserted the administration was "violating student privacy" with the new system. He argued these actions occurred instead of addressing basic infrastructure needs for students.
Past Conflicts and Disciplinary Measures
Danish Ali, Joint Secretary of the JNU Students’ Union, provided a historical perspective. She reported that the administration had previously tried to install similar systems. Earlier student protests had successfully compelled the university to stop those prior attempts. Ali detailed the disciplinary consequences for students involved in past demonstrations. Students faced significant monetary penalties. Fines ranged between Rs 15,000 and Rs 19,000 . Additionally, one student received a suspension for a full academic semester.
Ali also stated a persistent lack of transparency from the administration. She confirmed that student representatives met with both the university librarian and the registrar. Despite these discussions, the administration failed to provide clear information or justifications for the system. Ali stressed that the administration had "never considered the students’ perspective" throughout this process.
University Administration’s Official Stance
A JNU official commented on the events. The official confirmed the university administration views damage to public property with seriousness. Immediate steps have been initiated to investigate the incident thoroughly. The university has officially requested a comprehensive security report regarding the vandalism. The official stated, "Strict appropriate action will be taken after the report is received." This indicates forthcoming disciplinary action against those identified.