JNU Advises Students, Faculty to Avoid Jantar Mantar Protests Over NEET-UG Leak

After Delhi University cautioned its students and faculty against joining demonstrations at Jantar Mantar, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has now issued a similar advisory, asking members of its campus community to stay away from gatherings in and around the protest site.

The advisory comes amid continuing student-led demonstrations in the national capital over the NEET-UG paper leak controversy and demands for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

JNU urged students, faculty and staff to prioritise their safety and act responsibly, citing Supreme Court directions governing public demonstrations.

“All stakeholders of JNU’s epistemic community are advised to act responsibly and prioritise their personal safety,” the university said, asking them to refrain from participating in or visiting gatherings at or around Jantar Mantar.

The university also extended its caution to online activity, advising members of the JNU community to exercise restraint and responsibility while using social media.

It warned that violations could invite legal consequences under applicable laws as well as disciplinary proceedings under the university’s code of conduct.

JNU also called on its students, teachers and staff to uphold what it described as the values of “academic responsibility and responsible citizenship”.

The advisory places JNU alongside Delhi University in cautioning students as protests continue to draw attention in the capital.

Delhi University had earlier issued its own advisory asking students and faculty members to stay away from what it described as unlawful or unauthorised gatherings at Jantar Mantar.

The university said demonstrations at the site are regulated in accordance with Supreme Court directions and warned that participation in unlawful assemblies could invite legal action.

DU also highlighted possible consequences for students, cautioning that involvement in legal proceedings could affect their academic progress and future professional opportunities.

The university further flagged the circulation of what it described as fake, altered and misleading content online, urging students to verify information before sharing or reacting to social media posts related to the protests.

“Your safety matters to us,” DU said in its advisory, urging students to prioritise personal safety and compliance with the law.

Delhi University’s advisory drew a sharp response from Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, who accused the institution of attempting to intimidate students for exercising their democratic rights.

Gandhi questioned the warning issued to students and said those responsible would eventually be held accountable.

The Congress leader, along with other INDIA bloc leaders, had also visited Gandhi Smriti amid heavy security deployment to express solidarity with families affected by the NEET-UG paper leak controversy and those injured during the protests.

Despite the advisories, the Cockroach Janta Party, which has been at the forefront of the agitation at Jantar Mantar, has maintained that its protest will continue until Dharmendra Pradhan resigns.

CJP spokesperson Deepak Balyan said assurances about fast-track courts and action in paper leak cases were not enough to address the protesters’ concerns.

The group has framed its agitation around fixing accountability for alleged failures surrounding examination paper leaks, insisting that the Education Minister’s resignation remains one of its central demands.

With both DU and JNU now cautioning their campus communities against joining gatherings at Jantar Mantar, the advisories have added another dimension to the ongoing agitation, bringing questions around student participation, campus disciplinary rules and the right to protest into sharper focus.