JNU students' fellowships denial 'technical error' says University

New Delhi: Amid allegations by JNU students who were debarred in connection with the controversial Afzal Guru event that there fellowships have been denied, the university today clarified that the non-disbursement is due to “technical error” and not “intentional”. [caption id=“attachment_2700240” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Representational image. PTI[/caption] The university also maintained that a final decision on the quantum of punishment for the students in connection with the event has not been reached yet. Two scholars, Shweta Raj and JNU students union Rama Naga, had last week claimed that he university has denied their fellowships saying they are till under suspension. Shweta and Naga, along with six other students were academically debarred by the university for over a month in connection with an event on campus against hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru during which anti-national slogans were allegedly raised. JNU had revoked the suspension on March 11, after a high-level committee probing the issue submitted its report. “The denial of fellowships to these students is not intentional but due to a technical error. The letter about revoking of their suspension from chief proctor’s office has not reached the fellowships department yet and hence the confusion. We are looking into the matter,” JNU Registrar Pramod Kumar said. Kumar also rubbished talks about the university having reached a final decision regarding the quantum of punishment for students involved in the event, as “rumours”. “These are all rumours. The university has not taken a decision yet. The Vice Chancellor and other administrative officials are not in Delhi and a final decision in this regard can be reached only when they are back,” he said. While the Chief Proctor who is supposed to take a call on all disciplinary issues is in Manipur with other senior administrative officials for a three-day workshop on disaster management, the Vice Chancellor who is the final authority on punishments is out of town following his mother’s death. Three students Kanhaiya Kumar, Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya were arrested in a sedition case over the event. They are now out on bail. The high-level committee probing the issue had found some students guilty of violating disciplinary norms of the university and disrupting communal harmony on campus. The panel is also believed to have recommended rustication of five students including Kanhaiya, Umar and Anirban and a monetary penalty for others.