The HRD Ministry on Monday appointed a three-member committee to recommend ways to restore normal functioning of the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), officials said. The move comes on a day JNU students have planned a protest march to Parliament, continuing their agitation against the hostel fee hike.

“With a view to restore the normal functioning of JNU through dialogue with all stakeholders and to advise the university administration for resolution of contentious issues, the government has appointed a three-member high power committee,” HRD Secretary R Subrahmanyam said.

The panel includes former UGC Chairman VS Chauhan, AICTE chairman Anil Sahasrabudhe and UGC Secretary Rajnish Jain.

“The committee will initiate dialogue with the students and varsity administration immediately and submit recommendations on actions to be taken. The UGC will provide required support for the functioning of the committee,” Mr. Subrahmanyam said.

The varsity’s students have been protesting for nearly three weeks against the draft hostel manual, which has provisions for the hostel fee hike, dress code, and curfew timings.

The varsity’s Executive Council (EC) had later announced a partial rollback in the fee-only for students belonging to BPL category and not availing any scholarships.

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Meanwhile, thousands of protestors camping outside the Safdarjung tomb were allegedly forced by the police personnel to go back to the campus.

Earlier in the evening, the police released around 100 students who were detained during the day, including JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh. JNUSU vice-president Saket Moon said they met GC Hosur, the joint secretary of HRD Ministry, and submitted a memorandum of demands to him.

“We met him and put forth a memorandum of demands. We demanded that the HRD panel must meet the students’ union and till the time the panel is working on the matter, the fee hike must be kept in abeyance. We also demanded the sacking of the vice-chancellor,” Moon said.

He said the official assured them that the panel will be meeting the students’ union office-bearers on Wednesday.

Source: PTI