The JNU students’ protest against the hostel fee hike has taken another twist with the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) trying to break the ice. MHRD has advised the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) administration to inform the students’ union and withdraw the police complaint against students as the first step to end the deadlock at the university.
The MHRD led by Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ has proposed a settlement formula between JNUSU and JNU Administration over the weekend. The ministry is now waiting to hear back from JNU. If the university agrees, the government expects the JNU students to call off the protest, to not ‘gherao’ JNU officials.
The government has advised withdrawing the police complaints as it feels the atmosphere of dispute won’t help in sorting out the matter. Last month, police filed an FIR about ‘Vandalism’ against the students.
As per the Government official, the notification to the students’ union should not be a problem since the Delhi High Court has already permitted the election committee of JNUSU to declare the results of the union elections, which implies it has no problem with the recommendation of Lyngdoh Committee.
The Lyngdoh committee, set up in 2006 by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) as per the directions from the Supreme Court to improve students’ union elections to get rid of money and muscle power.