Sexual Harassment: JNU’s Recent Track Record Mars its Image of a Safe Campus

As the clock strikes 10 at night, many women in Delhi lock themselves in a self-curfew to protect themselves from the dangers associated with the dark. But Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) begs to differ, where girls would venture out on the campus even in the wee hours.

“There was a time when the campus used to be live and brisky with meetings and midnight strolls,” recollected a 31-year-old PhD scholar at JNU.

However, this image of JNU came crashing down on the morning of March 31, 2024, when the university woke up to the news of sexual offence against a 19-year-old female student. Now, the survivor has called a protest for women’s safety, demanding justice.

The survivor, who is a second-year student at the Centre for Chinese and South-Asian Studies, was allegedly sexually harassed by four people in a Wagon R car, two of whom were reportedly former JNU students.

She recounted, “While walking along the Ring Road, a car passed me and my friend, with the men cat-calling us with unwelcome comments like ‘love birds’, ‘comrade’, and ‘red salute’.”

Sensing danger, they resumed walking, but the car kept following them. The 19-year-old said they took refuge at a lit-up bus stop nearby and approached the security guards posted there.

 “Not ashamed of their advances, the men hurled abuses in the presence of the security guards and even threatened me to meet them in private. Initially, a guard dismissed the incident by claiming that both parties belonged to the same institution. The guards demanded to see my student identity card and even asked for details of my hostel. But they let the goons go, with no questions asked,” the survivor, who hails from Morena, Madhya Pradesh, said.

The following morning, she approached the Chief Security Officer (CSO) for information on her perpetrators. Little did she know that more obstacles were in store. "The officer misled us with the wrong names. It was only when more students crowded up [to persuade the administration] that they finally let out the names, but still without revealing their registration number. It took them another seven long hours to finally give in,” she added.

“Since no FIR was filed with the police from the victim’s side, we can’t comment on the internal matter of the university administration,” said Rohit Kumar Meena, DCP (South West), Vasant Vihar.

Unhappy with the sluggish reception of the university administration, the survivor has called for an indefinite strike, receiving support of the Jawaharlal Nehru University Student Union (JNUSU) and students familiar with her.

“The incident that occurred on March 31, is not new. In this campus, security lapses have been a critical concern for the past few years. The number of security guards has reduced drastically, leading to zero surveillance of the poorly lit spaces,” said Dhananjay (28), the newly elected president of JNUSU.

Sexual offences seem to have become frequent on campus, leading the survivor to call for a protest. A PhD scholar at JNU, who is also a friend of the survivor, stresses the standardisation of such offences. “A girl shared her experience of harassment on campus during an all-organisation meeting recently. She was chased by four drunk people while travelling to Parthasarathy Rocks (PSR) a few months ago. However, she managed to find safety in the library. While recounting the incident, she said she still experiences panic attacks,” says the 31-year-old.

Many students wonder how so many incidents occurred right under their noses.

“Such offences don't happen in isolation,” says Neeraj Kumar Bharat, a protestor affiliated with JNU DISHA. “On the one hand, our university offers courses and discussions on feminist studies and women’s rights. On the other hand, we come across such cases that show that women are not safe. The system itself seems to be broken,” he added.

He suggested that the pattern of such incidents of sexual harassment has often been seen on JNU's open campus, where outsiders are free to enter and exit as long as they have a student ID card for reference.

“Female students on the way to the library are constantly targeted whether they are alone or not. People deliberately roll down the windows of their cars, pass lewd comments and play vulgar songs,” said Bharat, a first-year PhD student at JNU’s Centre for Women Studies.

“When this (March 31) case came to light, people started discussing it repeatedly. Some female students met me and said they, too, had faced similar things. They are unsure about who to complain to and are uncertain about getting support even after filing a complaint,” said the 31-year-old PhD scholar.

“In such situations, the security guards are expected to act responsibly. But when we go to the ICC (Internal Complaints Committee) or the administration to complain, they often waste hours on simple procedural matters,” added Bharat.

The survivor has five demands: the immediate restraint of the two alleged student perpetrators, banishment of the ex-students allegedly involved in the harassment, deregistration of the two alleged student perpetrators, full disclosure of the ICC reports, declaration of the responsibilities of the security guards, and that the administration should clearly state the duties and responsibilities of the security guards.

So far, only two of these demands have been fulfilled – the two accused former students have been ordered out of bounds and a restraining order has been issued against them, as per the PhD scholar. However, despite the order, she claimed that the two were reportedly seen in the university, raising concern and anxiety for the survivor's safety.

In June 2023, the Delhi Police had filed two cases regarding the attempted kidnapping and assault of two female students by four drunk men who entered JNU campus in a car. Back then, acknowledging the gravity of the situation, the university administration announced security measures, including a ban on entry of outside vehicles between 10 p.m-6 a.m.

“The problem is rooted in the lack of GSCASH (Gender Sensitisation Committee Against Sexual Harassment), a body that used to create awareness around issues of sexual offences through workshops, seminars, and discussions. Since the lack of such a body, the prevalence of violence has been on the rise”, said Dhananjay, who is a PhD student at the School of Arts and Aesthetics (SAA).

In September 2017, the JNU administration disbanded GSCASH and replaced it with an Internal Complaints Committee (ICC), citing UGC (University Grants Commission) regulations, 2015. The body provides a platform to address grievances of sexual harassment and sensitise the public on gender-related issues. GSCASH finds itself back in the conversations with printed flyers being circulated by the protesters, demanding its reinstatement.

Kavita Krishnan, a women’s rights activist, told these writers that, “Every now and then, we hear about a new case of sexual harassment in JNU. All this goes back to the dismantling of GSCASH. In its place, the UGC recommended an ICC. But its inquiry protocol has been terrible to the extent that it has sadly become a part of the power structure with no autonomy.”

“This protest holds immense significance, as it conveys a crucial message to all students that if they unite for a just cause, they can achieve it without political affiliation or external help. This movement epitomises the idea of independence, where people with similar ideologies come together to achieve their desired outcomes. Remember, this university belongs to all of us,” said the 19-year-old survivor, who led and organised the protest.

“Even if we finish the strike as per everyone's wishes, this case will turn to dust, as it has always happened; we will never get justice. But, we will not back down,” said Bharat.

Kulsoom Faiz is a Delhi-based free-lance journalist, they write on feminist issues, culture and society. Roopashi Semalty is an independent journalist with special interest in environment, gender and development.