JNU semester exam registration disrupted, WIFI service down

NEW DELHI: The registration process for the semester exam at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) was disrupted on January 3. The server of the university has been down.

On January 3, the administration of JNU alleged that a group of students wearing masks obstructed the registration process by "forcibly evicting" the technical staff and disconnected the power supply to make the “servers dysfunctional”.

A statement released by JNU administration on January 3, 2020, said: “ At around 1 PM today, a group of students using masks on their faces forcibly entered the office of the Centre for Information System, switched off the power supply, forcibly evicted all the technical staff and made servers dysfunctional”

On January 4, the JNU Students' Union alleged that the security guards of the university barged into the Communication and Information Services Room and attacked the students. “Today morning at 6 AM near the Communication and Information Services Room, security guards in the number of 30-40 mobilized, switched off the lights and ...attacked students. They were shamefully wearing masks.” said a statement issued by JNUSU.

The guards, allegedly, also “manhandled and assaulted the students” said the JNUSU statement. A video, allegedly of an Akhil Bhartiya Vidya Parishad (ABVP) member, was also circulated showcasing attack on protesting students.

‘ABVP Counters’

The ABVP, however, denies the entire account given by JNUSU. Speaking to Careers360, Shiv Chaurasia, an ABVP member of JNU unit said, “ Yesterday, around 100-150 students, wearing masks entered the system room from where the WIFI for the university is regulated. They hijacked the entire place and forcibly evicted the staff. The server is still down. They are playing the victim card to provoke the students and make videos to say that ABVP is assaulting students,”

The registrar of JNU, Pramod Kumar told Asian News International “ ...the entire registration process was hampered and made it impossible for students to complete their registration process. University will take strict disciplinary action against agitators who have caused enormous hardship to thousands of students,”

A section JNU students have been demanding complete rollback of hostel fee hike and the revised hostel manual which was introduced last year in November. As a mark of protest, students have boycotted the registration for the semester exam which is open from January 1 to 5, 2020. To complete the registration process, the offices have been kept open on Saturday and Sunday. Deans/Chairpersons have also been directed to remain available.

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