Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) on Friday, 24 July issued an advisory urging students, faculty, and all members of its academic community to stay away from Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, where the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) is holding protests over the NEET paper leak and related demands. The move follows a near-identical advisory issued a day earlier by the University of Delhi (DU), making it the second central university within 24 hours to formally caution its community against joining or visiting the demonstrations.

What the JNU Advisory Said

In its official statement, JNU invoked directions of the Supreme Court of India on public demonstrations, asking stakeholders to refrain from participating in or visiting gatherings at or around Jantar Mantar. “All stakeholders of JNU’s epistemic community are advised to act responsibly and prioritise their personal safety. In accordance with the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India’s directions on public demonstrations, you are requested to refrain from participating in or visiting gatherings at or around Jantar Mantar, New Delhi,” the advisory stated.

The university also extended its caution to social media conduct, warning that violations could attract both legal consequences and disciplinary action under the university’s code of conduct. Students and staff were further encouraged to “upholdthe values of academic responsibility and responsible citizenship.”

Delhi University Had Moved First

On Thursday, 23 July, Delhi University had issued a comparable appeal to its students and faculty, citing safety and legal concerns. “Dear students and faculty, your safety matters to us,” the DU advisory read, noting that gatherings at Jantar Mantar are subject to regulations and restrictions under Supreme Court directions. DU had explicitly warned against participation in unlawful assemblies or demonstrations, framing student safety as its foremost priority.

The Protests Driving the Advisories

The demonstrations at Jantar Mantar have centred on demands for the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET paper leak controversy. Notably, the protests have continued even after activist Sonam Wangchuk ended his 26-day fast, suggesting the agitation retains independent momentum beyond any single figurehead. The CJP has been among the groups sustaining pressure at the site over the exam integrity issue and related concerns.

Broader Context and What It Signals

The simultaneous advisories from two of India’s most prominent central universities reflect a cautious institutional posture amid an ongoing and politically charged protest cycle. This is not the first time universities have issued such preemptive notices during large-scale demonstrations in the capital. The invocation of Supreme Court directions lends the advisories a legal weight beyond routine administrative guidance. Whether the warnings will deter student participation remains to be seen, given the historically active campus culture at both institutions.