Delhi High Court: Stays JNU Fine on Students for Smiling at Protesters

The Delhi High Court, through Justice Jasmeet Singh, recently stayed an order by Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) imposing a ₹19,000 fine on students for allegedly smiling at protestors, finding the university's action an infringement on fundamental rights. This significant intervention came in the case of *Mr C Arjun & Ors v Jawaharlal Nehru University*, where the court observed that the students' conduct did not constitute any infraction categorised as indiscipline. The university's disciplinary action stemmed from a show cause notice dated January 15, 2026, followed by office orders on February 2, 2026, which were subsequently upheld by appellate orders on March 30, 2026, before the High Court's stay.