The Chief Proctor Office manual approved by the Executive Council of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has ignited controversy, with students now facing severe fines and penalties for engaging in various activities, including protests, dharnas, and unauthorised events.

The manual, which sets out the “rules of discipline and proper conduct of students,” imposes fines of up to Rs 20,000 for activities such as holding demonstrations within a 100-metre radius of academic and administrative complexes.

Students may also face eviction from hostels, rustication, and fines for organising events without prior permission.

The JNU Students Union issued a statement condemning the stringent measures, asserting that they are designed to stifle the vibrant campus culture that has defined JNU for decades.

According to the union, the regulations aim to discourage open discussions, dissent, and intellectual exploration—elements fundamental to the spirit of the university.

The manual not only imposes fines but also threatens eviction, rustication, and a Rs 20,000 fine for acts deemed indiscipline or of moral turpitude by the administration.

The JNU Students Union is calling for the immediate revocation of the new manual, emphasising that decisions affecting the entire student community should be made collectively, considering diverse perspectives.

This development follows earlier instances, such as the penalisation of two JNU students in August, who were initially fined Rs 10,000 each for alleged misbehavior with a hostel warden.

However, the administration later withdrew the penalties after facing opposition from the students.