JNU students protesting peacefully, police tell Delhi HC; varsity disagrees

New Delhi: The Delhi Police on Wednesday said that a peaceful protest was being carried out by the students in the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU).

However, the university authorities alleged that the protesters were blocking the administrative block in the campus.

When the matter came up for hearing before the Delhi High Court today, the police submitted a report stating that the students were holding a protest 50 metres away from the administrative block.

"The Vice Chancellor, teachers and staff of JNU are using the administrative block without any hindrance. Everything is smooth there and even there is over 300 officials from the JNU security," the Delhi Police counsel told the High Court.

The Delhi Police counsel further informed that there was no constitutional breakdown and no untoward incident took place during the protest.

The students are protesting the recent amendments made in the JNU admission policy, which they claim will lead to a massive cut in MPhil and PhD seats.

The students have been sitting since February 9 at the administrative block.

The counsel also objected to the listing of the matter before the court and said that it was not empowered to hear criminal matters.

Taking note of this, the judge referred the matter to the bench of Chief Justice to decide whether the issue raised in the plea comes under the purview of education or crime.

The petition has been fixed for further consideration on March 6.