Delhi Court Orders Release of 14 Students

The students, including the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) President Aditi Mishra, were arrested during a "Long March" on February 26. The protest was organized to demand the resignation of Vice-Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit over alleged casteist remarks and to call for the implementation of UGC equity regulations. Tensions escalated when protestors were stopped by police at the university gates, leading to a scuffle. Out of approximately 400 to 500 student protestors, 51 were initially detained, with 14 being formally arrested, including several JNUSU office-bearers. The Delhi Police stated that some protestors turned violent and assaulted security personnel. Among the students' demands were the revocation of rustication orders against student leaders and the enactment of a "Rohith Act" to prevent caste-based discrimination on campuses. The JNUSU also called for an apology from the Delhi Police for allegedly damaging a portrait of B. R. Ambedkar during the confrontation. Although the 14 students were granted bail on February 27, their release was delayed due to a condition requiring the verification of their permanent addresses. Many of the students are from outside Delhi and reside in university hostels, which complicated and prolonged the verification process. A subsequent court order on Sunday modified the initial bail conditions, ruling that the verification of addresses could not be a precondition for their release from custody. The magistrate stated that procedural formalities should not be so protracted as to make the judicial order of bail "illusory." Following their release from Tihar Jail, student organizations have hailed the court's decision as a significant victory for democratic rights. While the campus is reported to be calm, student groups have indicated that their agitation over their demands will continue.