Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) authorities have alleged that a group of students forcefully entered the library and continued to sit inside in violation of Covid guidelines.

In a circular, the JNU registrar said an FIR has been lodged against the students who are occupying the library space since Tuesday.

“This has caused health risk for the library staff and even other students residing in the hostels, since these unruly students return to hostel for lunch/dinner or other purposes. When no amount of persuasion by the librarian and the security personnel convinced these students against violating the law and Covid-19 guidelines, the JNU security office lodged a police complaint in view of the seriousness of the issue,” said the circular.

Students blamed the university for disallowing their entry into the library which has been kept open for the staff.

Saket Moon, a student, said that the varsity has been denying entry to students to use the reading room since April. But the library is open for officials who come for duty.

“The students are demanding permission to use the reading room space by following Covid protocols. The Covid situation has improved now,” he said.

N. Sai Balaji, a research student in JNU, said the students are handicapped if they are not allowed to use the varsity library.

Many students are at the fag end of their research work and they need to use the library for finalisation of their theses, he said.

In the circular, the varsity said no new guidelines have been announced regarding the resumption of normal academic activities on the campus.

The chief proctor’s office has been tasked with taking necessary disciplinary action against these students according to the university rules.

“The students occupying the library space are not permitting the library staff to sanitise the library for making it safer for students who will use the library after restoration of normalcy. All these students are hereby instructed to vacate the library immediately,” the circular said.