Afzal Guru row: 21 students guilty, but fines slashed

The appellate authority, which heard the appeals of the 21 JNU students who were penalised in connection with the controversial February 9 event, has found all of them guilty of indiscipline even as the financial penalty imposed on some of them has been reduced.

“The panel has found guilty the 21 students who were penalised in connection with the February 9 event. The punishments still stand but fines imposed on few students have been reduced. Fresh letters informing the decision have been issued to students,” a source said.

There was, however, no clarity on who all have benefited with reduction of penalty.

In the light of the recommendation of the high level inquiry committee and subsequently the recommendation of the panel constituted to assist the Appellate Authority, the university had on Monday informed that the vice- chancellor has come to a conclusion and has taken the final decision on the appeals made by the students.

JNU was at the centre of a controversy in February this year because of an event on campus against hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru during which anti-national slogans were allegedly raised.

Three students, including the students union president Kanhaiya Kumar, were arrested in a sedition case over the event and are now out on bail.