JNU scholar claims her degree blocked due to Afzal Guru row

New Delhi: A PhD scholar at JNU on Monday alleged that the varsity has refused to give her MPhil degree in connection with a controversial event during which anti-national slogans were allegedly raised.

University officials said that certain protocols are to be followed when any matter is being investigated but maintained that they need to check details of the particular case.

Chintu Kumari, former JNU students union General Secretary who is pursuing PhD in Political Science, was found "guilty" of violating disciplinary norms by the JNU probe panel investigating the February 9 event against the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru.

While Chintu Kumari was issued a show-cause notice following completion of the inquiry by the five-member high-level committee, she was not among the eight students who were debarred from academic activities pending an inquiry.

"Today I went to collect my MPhil marksheet and I was informed by the administration that my degree and mark-sheets have been blocked by the Chief Proctor's Office in connection with the February 9 incident," Chintu alleged.

"The biased probe panel has so far not substantiated its decision of taking action on the eight students of which I was not even a part. Such arbitrary decisions by the administration are putting the future of many students at stake,"

she added.

She also maintained that the degree in question is for an MPhil course which she had completed an year back following which she enrolled herself in PhD.

Responding to the allegations by Kumari, a senior university official said "there are certain protocols to be followed in matters pending an inquiry or action but I need to check whether Chintu Kumari's marksheet and degree have been blocked in connection with the incident being claimed by her".

JNU is yet to announce the quantum of punishment in connection with the incident after 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 JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar, Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya and monetary penalty for others.

Kanhaiya, Umar and Anirban were arrested in a sedition case over the event. They are now on bail.

Two students Shweta Raj and Rama Naga, who were among the debarred ones, had last week said that the university has "denied" them fellowships maintaining that their suspension has not been revoked yet.

The university had termed it to be a "technical error" and said their grants will be disbursed.