NEW DELHI: The recent fatal stabbing of a Punjab University student during a music concert has taken a legal turn, with Advocate Yatin Mehta filing a contempt petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
The move comes amid growing criticism of the authorities’ failure to enforce safety protocols during university events.
Advocate Points To Negligence Of 2019 Court Guidelines In his petition, Mehta accused the Chandigarh administration and Panjab University of ignoring directives previously issued by the High Court.
According to Mehta, “In 2019, the court had issued clear instructions to take strict action against violence, drug use, or the performance of objectionable songs at any concert. The court had made the SP, DSP, and DC accountable for ensuring these rules were followed.
However, these instructions have been repeatedly ignored, and even during the recent university event, the guidelines were violated.”
Court Demands Accountability From Top Officials
Taking serious note of the allegations, the High Court has issued notices to the Dean of Student Welfare (DSW), the District Commissioner (DC) of Chandigarh, as well as the SP and SSP.
All four have been directed to appear via video conferencing by May 8 and submit a comprehensive report detailing the steps taken to comply with the 2019 court order.
Violence At Concert Leaves Student Dead
The incident in question occurred on March 29, during a live music performance by Haryanvi singer Masoom Sharma. A violent clash between 2 student groups escalated, resulting in a student being fatally stabbed. The victim later died of his injuries in the early hours of the next day.
The student’s death triggered outrage across the campus, with students staging protests and raising slogans against the police. In response, university authorities launched an internal investigation and stepped up campus security.