Afzal Guru row: JNU grants 7-day extension to probe panel

Jawaharlal Nehru University today granted 7-days extension to the high-level committee set up by it to enquire into an event held in varsity campus against the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru during which anti-national slogans were allegedly raised.

"The committee today sought some more time from us as it needs to properly examine the evidences. We granted an extension of 7 days," JNU registrar Bhupinder Zutshi told PTI.

The panel comprising of professors was supposed to submit its report by February 22 and the deadline has now been deferred to March 3.

JNU Teachers Association (JNUTA) today reiterated the demands of the teachers and students seeking "expansion" of the probe committee by inclusion of more members, which was rejected by the university.

"We have full faith in the committee constituted by us as it includes senior professors who will come up with a detailed and fair report. There is no question of adding more members or changing its composition," said JNU VC M Jagadesh Kumar.

The students who were asked to appear before the panel had last week refused to participate in the inquiry citing "unjust" suspension of eight students.

The varsity authorities, however, maintained that the students will be given three chances to appear before the disciplinary committee and if they fail to do so the committee will finalise its recommendations on the basis of the evidence, eyewitness accounts, students' deposition (if any) and material available on hand.

The JNU administration had instituted the "disciplinary" committee to inquire as to how the event on February 9 against the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru took place despite the withdrawal of permission for the same.

On the basis of a preliminary report by the panel, the varsity had debarred eight students from academic activity while allowing them to stay as guests in hostels till the inquiry proceedings were over.

JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar is in judicial custody in a sedition case in connection with the event.