NEW DELHI, Oct 31: Jamia Millia Islamia has ended an 18-day student agitation after reaching an agreement with protesting students over the restoration of its students’ union, setting a definite timeline for implementing the union constitution and conducting elections after nearly two decades.
The breakthrough came following more than seven hours of negotiations between university authorities and student representatives on Thursday night. The administration subsequently issued an official order outlining the process for restoring the Jamia Millia Islamia Students’ Union (JMISU), which has remained dissolved since 2006.
Under the revised arrangement, the university has fixed May 15, 2027, as the deadline for completing the approval and implementation of the students’ union constitution. Elections will be conducted within six weeks of the beginning of the next academic session, expected to commence around July 15, 2027.
The agreement brought an end to demonstrations that had continued for more than two weeks, with several students undertaking an indefinite hunger strike to press for their demands.
The agitation began on October 12, when students launched protests seeking the revival of an elected students’ representative body. They argued that the absence of a university-wide union for nearly 20 years had deprived students of an important platform to raise academic, administrative and campus-related concerns.
The university had initially agreed to conduct elections after the approval of a new constitution. However, students rejected the earlier arrangement because it did not specify a deadline for completing the constitutional process.
The absence of a fixed schedule became a major point of disagreement, prompting protesters to continue their sit-in and hunger strike despite the administration’s initial assurances.
During the negotiations on Thursday, student representatives insisted that the university provide a written commitment containing clear dates for the constitutional process and subsequent elections.
Following the discussions, the Registrar’s Office issued a revised order specifying the deadline for implementing the constitution and conducting the polls. The decision was welcomed by protesting students, who subsequently called off their agitation and hunger strike.
The university has also agreed to withdraw disciplinary proceedings initiated against students in connection with the demonstrations. The revised order covers show-cause notices, suspensions, rustication orders and restrictions preventing students from entering the campus.
The withdrawal of these measures was another significant demand raised during the agitation.
Students had argued that disciplinary action against protesters should not become an obstacle to their academic progress or participation in university activities. The administration’s decision to revoke the measures formed an important part of the settlement.
The agreement also provides for the drafting and approval of a formal constitution that will establish the framework for the functioning of the restored students’ union.
The constitution making process is expected to take into account the university’s legal and institutional requirements, existing regulations and recommendations of the Lyngdoh Committee.
The committee’s recommendations provide guidelines for conducting student union elections in educational institutions, including provisions relating to eligibility, election procedures, expenditure and the functioning of elected representatives.
The university will issue a formal notification for the elections after the constitution receives the necessary approval.
The next stage will involve establishing the electoral framework and completing the administrative preparations required to conduct the polls.
The university’s students’ union was dissolved in 2006 following a period marked by clashes and disruptions on campus. Since then, Jamia has not conducted university-wide students’ union elections, although departmental and subject association elections have continued.
The latest agreement therefore marks an important development in the university’s efforts to re-establish an elected representative structure.
The protests also had an impact on regular academic activities at the institution. As demonstrations intensified, the university shifted classes and examinations to online mode to maintain continuity in teaching and assessment.
The administration had earlier announced that online arrangements would remain in place amid concerns over the campus situation.
However, following the resolution of the agitation, the university announced that offline classes and academic activities would resume from November 2.
The decision is expected to help students return to regular classroom learning and allow departments to resume their normal academic schedules.
The disruption had affected students across different programmes, particularly those preparing for semester examinations and other academic requirements.
The return to physical classes will also require departments and administrative units to coordinate examination arrangements, attendance procedures and pending academic activities.
The agreement was reached on the university’s 106th Foundation Day, making the development particularly significant for the protesting students.
Following the announcement, students celebrated the decision on campus and organised a victory march. The atmosphere changed after weeks of demonstrations, with protesters welcoming the administration’s commitment to restore an elected representative body.
The negotiations involved university officials and representatives from different student organisations. The diversity of groups participating in the agitation had initially made it difficult to identify a common delegation for discussions.
Student representatives eventually presented a written list of demands, including a definite timeline for implementing the union constitution, a schedule for elections and withdrawal of disciplinary measures linked to the protest.
The administration’s revised order addressed these principal demands and provided a framework for ending the confrontation.
The developments have also renewed discussions about the role of student unions in universities and their contribution to democratic participation in higher education.
Student organisations generally serve as platforms through which elected representatives can communicate student concerns to university administrations. Their activities can cover academic facilities, hostel arrangements, examination-related issues, campus infrastructure and other matters affecting students.
Supporters of the restoration have argued that elected bodies provide students with an organised mechanism for participation in university governance and encourage leadership development.
At the same time, the university will have to ensure that the proposed system functions within the applicable legal and institutional framework.
The Lyngdoh Committee recommendations are expected to play an important role in guiding the election process and establishing rules for the functioning of the union.
The restoration process will also require cooperation between the administration and students to ensure that the constitutional framework reflects the institution’s requirements while providing adequate representation.
With the immediate agitation called off, attention has now shifted towards implementing the agreement within the announced schedule.
The May 15, 2027, deadline will be a key milestone in the process, followed by preparations for elections during the next academic session.
For students, the agreement represents a step towards restoring a university-wide elected body after a prolonged absence. For the administration, the immediate priority will be to bring academic activities back to normal and complete the constitutional process in accordance with the announced commitments.
The resumption of offline classes from November 2 is expected to mark the first major step towards restoring normal academic functioning at Jamia Millia Islamia following the prolonged agitation.