World · India Bureau
JNU students extend hunger strike over rustication, demand administrative action
Jawaharlal Nehru University students have entered their 12th day of continuous protest, demanding the reversal of rustication orders against student union members and restoration of key campus facilities. A second round of talks with the administration yielded no concrete commitments, students said.
LSN India ·
Students at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi continued their indefinite hunger strike on Wednesday, pressing their demands after fresh negotiations with university officials failed to produce substantive results. The protest, now in its second week, centers on the rustication of several JNU Students' Union (JNUSU) members and the restoration of the Graduate Students' Centre and the Ashoka Sthal (GSCASH) facility, as well as the JNUEE examination.
Representatives from the JNUSU expressed disappointment following their latest meeting with the administration, stating that officials provided only vague assurances without committing to specific remedial measures. The student union maintained that the current impasse reflects what they characterize as the administration's intransigence on core governance and student welfare issues.
The protest has drawn support from various student groups and faculty members who view the rustication orders as disproportionate and cite concerns about the closure of campus facilities. University authorities have not issued a formal statement addressing the students' concerns, though previous communications have indicated the administrative actions were taken in accordance with institutional regulations.
The strike represents the latest flashpoint in ongoing tensions between the university administration and student leadership over governance structures and disciplinary procedures. Campus observers note that the situation underscores broader questions about institutional accountability and student representation at major Indian universities.