Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) administration canceled a planned book discussion featuring author Umar Khalid, citing the organizers' failure to disclose complete program details. The event, titled "From My Cell: Writings of a Political Prisoner," was scheduled to take place on Friday, May 10, 2024, at the university's Committee Room 1 of the School of Social Sciences (SSS) building. The cancellation notice, issued on May 9, 2024, emphasized non-compliance with mandatory guidelines for organizing events on campus.

The discussion focused on the book, a compilation of essays and reflections by Umar Khalid, a former JNU student and research scholar currently under judicial custody in connection with the 2020 Delhi riots conspiracy case. Khalid was arrested in September 2020 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The event's organizers, identified as various student bodies within the university, had invited prominent academics Professor Apoorvanand from Delhi University and Professor Nandini Sundar from Delhi School of Economics to speak at the discussion.

University officials stated that the organizers had not provided the necessary information required for event approval, including a complete list of speakers, the detailed agenda, and a clear outline of the program's content. JNU's established protocols mandate that organizers submit a comprehensive application outlining all aspects of an event to the Dean of Students' office for approval. This process is designed to ensure campus safety, regulatory compliance, and proper allocation of resources. The administration highlighted that these disclosure requirements are standard procedure for all campus activities and are not specific to this particular event.

The cancellation has elicited varied reactions from the student community and faculty. While some student groups expressed disappointment, characterizing the decision as an infringement on academic freedom and free speech, the university maintained its stance that the cancellation was purely procedural. Student representatives indicated that efforts were made to comply with the requirements, though differing interpretations of "complete details" may have contributed to the issue.

  • Event Scheduled: May 10, 2024, at Committee Room 1, School of Social Sciences, JNU.
  • Book Title: "From My Cell: Writings of a Political Prisoner."
  • Author: Umar Khalid, former JNU research scholar, currently in judicial custody.
  • Reason for Cancellation: Non-disclosure of complete program details, including speaker list and agenda, as per JNU regulations.
  • Invited Speakers: Professor Apoorvanand (Delhi University) and Professor Nandini Sundar (Delhi School of Economics).
  • Organizer: Various student bodies within JNU.
  • Legal Status of Author: Under judicial custody since September 2020, charged under UAPA.

Following the cancellation, there were no immediate reports of rescheduled discussions on the university campus. The JNU administration has reiterated its commitment to upholding university guidelines for event organization, emphasizing that all proposals are evaluated against the same set of criteria to ensure order and security within the academic environment. Organizers have not yet announced any alternative plans for holding the discussion.