Kanhaiya Kumar, arrested on charges of sedition, was released on bail from Tihar Jail on March 3. (File photo)

Highlights Show-cause notice to 21 students found guilty of violating varsity rules

Final call to be taken by Vice Chancellor and Proctor's office: Sources

JNU on March 11 revoked academic suspension of Kanhaiya, 7 others

Kanhaiya Kumar, Umar Khalid, Anirban Bhattacharya and two other students should be rusticated for their alleged role in a controversial event last month at which anti-national slogans were allegedly raised, a high-level committee of the Jawaharlal Nehru University has recommended.Sources, however, said a decision on the recommendation by the panel will be taken by Vice Chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar and Chief Proctor A Dimri after a thorough scrutiny of the suggestions.A meeting of the university's top leaders chaired by the Vice Chancellor on Monday discussed the report following which the university issued a showcause notice to 21 students including Kanhaiya Kumar and Umar Khalid, who were found guilty of having violated university rules and discipline norms.The committee was formed on February 10 to probe the event organised to protest the hanging of Afzal Guru, convicted for the attack on Parliament. Mr Kumar, Mr Khalid and Mr Bhattacharya were arrested on charges of sedition in connection with the programme. Mr Kumar was released on bail from Tihar Jail on March 3 while Mr Khalid and Mr Bhattacharya are still in judicial custody."The high-level committee has recommended rustication of five students after its investigation over a month's time. However, the final call in this regard will be taken by the Vice Chancellor and Proctor's office," sources told PTI.The university had, on March 11, revoked the academic suspension of eight students including Mr Kumar after completion of the probe by the five-member panel. It was decided to keep them under suspension from academic activities till the inquiry was over. However, they were allowed to stay in the hostels.The panel, which was granted three extensions before it finally submitted its report, also faced difficulties in the probe as students refused to depose before it demanding that the enquiry be constituted afresh.The university, however, turned down the demand and maintained that the students will be given three chances to appear before the disciplinary committee and, if they fail to do so, the committee will finalise its recommendations on the basis of evidence available, eyewitness accounts, students' deposition, if any, and other material available on hand.