It’s Tuesday morning, February 3, 2026, and the JNU campus is basically a tinderbox after a massive disciplinary hammer dropped yesterday. The administration has rusticated and banned five top student leaders—essentially decapitating the current Students’ Union (JNUSU) leadership.
The thing is, this isn’t just about a standard protest. It’s about the Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Central Library and a ₹20 lakh surveillance system that was literally ripped out of the floor. Or nothing.
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The JNU Surveillance Showdown: Field Notes
It’s an ongoing situation where the definition of “peaceful dissent” versus “premeditated vandalism” is being fought over in proctorial orders. Here’s the ground reality:
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The “Out of Bounds” Order: As of February 2, JNUSU President Aditi Mishra, VP Gopika Babu, and three other leaders have been rusticated for two semesters (Winter and Monsoon 2026). They aren’t just suspended; they are barred from even stepping foot on campus. Anyone giving them shelter in a hostel? They get disciplinary action too. Let’s be real—this is the administration saying “game over” for the current union. Those too.
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The Facial Recognition War: The university claims the group used scissors (which they say proves it was “premeditated”) to cut CCTV wires and dismantle Facial Recognition Technology (FRT) gates. The admin says two female security guards were even injured during the scuffle on November 21. And then the police FIR followed.
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The Library Neglect Argument: The students’ counter? They say the library is in “disastrous condition”—no books, no seats, but the admin found ₹20 lakh for high-tech gates. They see the FRT as a “mass surveillance” tool meant to track their every movement in what should be a democratic academic space.
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The Fine Wall: Former president Nitish Kumar is facing a ₹20,000 fine (some reports say up to ₹29,000 with other penalties). The kicker—he can’t register for his next PhD semester until he pays up. It’s an effective “financial blockade.” Or nothing.
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Disciplinary Action Tracker: Feb 2026
| Leader Name | Position | Action Taken | Allegation |
| Aditi Mishra | JNUSU President | Rusticated (2 Sems) + Out of Bounds | Led vandalism of FRT gates |
| Gopika Babu | JNUSU Vice-President | Rusticated (2 Sems) + Out of Bounds | Provocative speech on dismantled panels |
| Sunil Yadav | General Secretary | Rusticated (2 Sems) + Out of Bounds | Vandalism & Property Damage |
| Danish Ali | Joint Secretary | Rusticated (2 Sems) + Out of Bounds | Vandalism & Property Damage |
| Nitish Kumar | Former President | Rusticated + ₹20,000 Fine | Cutting wires, dismantling CCTV |
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And Here’s the Kicker…
The JNUSU is calling this “vendetta politics” and a “political crackdown” to silence them right before they were planning to protest a new set of UGC regulations. The thing is, without their office-bearers, they’re now planning a “mass mobilization” of the general student body to keep the pressure on. Those too.
One side comment—the Delhi Police have already served notices for questioning. It’s moving from a campus fight to a legal marathon. Authentic, but a mess for anyone just trying to finish their PhD. It’s an ongoing situation. Or nothing.
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End….
