The protest demanding the restoration of the Jamia Millia Islamia Students’ Union (JMISU) entered its 16th day on Tuesday, October 27, with students continuing their agitation despite the university’s decision to hold elections within 15 days of the approval of the union’s constitution.
The protesting students are demanding a definite date for the elections, which have not been held since 2006, along with a clear timeline for approving the constitution.
The university issued an order on Monday stating that elections would be held within 15 days of the constitution’s approval. It also revoked suspension and show cause notices issued to students during the protest and announced a committee to inquire into the conduct of security staff during the agitation.
However, the protesters said the decision did not address their concerns because it did not specify when the constitution would be approved.
“Our first demand was that student union elections should be revived, and dates for polls be declared,” Rehan Khan, one of the students on an indefinite hunger strike, said on Monday.
University Asks Hunger Striker to Vacate Protest Site
Late on Monday, the university issued a separate order directing Khan to immediately vacate the protest site, warning that failure to comply could lead to legal action.
The university’s order also stated that the protesting students had agreed to issue a public apology at a press conference over statements, actions or social media posts it described as defamatory towards the administration. It directed that such posts be removed and said the protest would be called off following the order.
The students, however, continued their agitation on Tuesday.
Tensions escalated on Monday when scuffles broke out between protesters and paramilitary personnel amid heightened security on campus. Police prevented protesting students from entering the university as they raised slogans against the administration.
The university had shifted classes across all courses to online mode on October 24, citing concerns over students’ safety and security.
According to a notice issued on Monday, online classes will continue until November 8, after which the university will reassess the situation.
Alumni, Student Groups Express Solidarity
At a press conference organised by the Jamia Collective at Syeda Manzil in Jamia Nagar on Monday, alumni, members of the university’s founding families, artists, lawyers and student representatives expressed solidarity with the protesters and called for the restoration of democratic spaces on campus.
Representatives of the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI), All India Students’ Federation (AISF), Students’ Federation of India (SFI), All India Democratic Students’ Organisation (AIDSO), All India Students’ Association (AISA) and DISHA discussed the demands and called for meaningful dialogue between the administration and students.
Those who addressed the gathering included academician Siddiquur Rahman Kidwai, educationist Syeda Hameed and Jamia alumna Sameena Mishra.
In a statement issued after the gathering, participants said students needed a representative platform to raise concerns, participate in university affairs and have a meaningful role in campus governance. They urged the administration to hold transparent discussions and take concrete steps to resolve the impasse.
SFI representatives also questioned the role of the university’s security adviser, alleging that the position was being used to monitor students involved in protests. They raised concerns over the deployment of security personnel on campus.
The university had previously announced the formation of a committee to draft the JMISU constitution and said disciplinary action against students over protest related issues would be reviewed.
