Delhi High Court Stays ₹19,000 JNU Fines, Says Students Have a Valuable Right to Dissent

The Delhi High Court has drawn a distinction between actual misconduct and peaceful expressions of solidarity with a student protest.

Background

JNU issued show-cause notices and later imposed ₹19,000 fines on eight students. Some were accused of shaking camera stands and cheering students involved in vandalising a facial-recognition system; others were accused of supporting the protest by clapping and sloganeering.

The students denied participating in the alleged acts and challenged the Proctorial Committee's orders.

Court's reasoning

Justice Jasmeet Singh observed that the right of students to express dissent, demonstrate and show support for a demonstration is a valuable right. On the material shown at the interim stage, the Court said merely smiling at protestors could not amount to indiscipline.

The Court described the impugned action as capable of striking at the students' fundamental rights if allowed to operate before the challenge was examined.

Result and practical significance

The fines were stayed until the next hearing, scheduled for January 12, 2027. The order is interim and does not finally decide the disciplinary proceedings.