New Delhi: Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) Vice Chancellor Santishree D Pandit has cautioned students against allowing politics to compromise their academic pursuits amid recent controversies surrounding stringent measures implemented against campus protests.

Pandit underscored the importance of balancing activism with academic responsibilities, expressing concern that students engaged in politics might later seek extensions, potentially affecting their professional profiles. In an interview, she stated, "Nobody is saying don't protest, but at the same time, your academics should not be compromised. Many students involved in politics later approach me seeking extensions, and this can impact their job prospects."

Having assumed the role of Vice Chancellor in 2022, Pandit mentioned a decision to withdraw proctorial inquiries against students associated with the 2019 fee hike protest to safeguard their career prospects.

Emphasizing responsible expression of freedoms, Pandit's administration released a revised Chief Proctor Office (CPO) manual outlining penalties for specific actions on campus. The manual includes fines for protesting in prohibited areas and for raising anti-national slogans.

According to the revised CPO manual from November 2023, fines of up to Rs 20,000 can be imposed for protesting in restricted areas on campus, with Rs 10,000 for raising anti-national slogans.

Addressing criticisms of the manual, Pandit clarified, "We have not increased the fines in the (revised) CPO manual. Most fines mentioned are for incidents such as obstructing university officials, manhandling them, or engaging in activities like drinking (alcohol) or overspeeding on campus."

Pandit noted a reduction in unlawful activities during her tenure and explained that some proctorial inquiries cannot be reversed due to ongoing legal processes.

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