NEW DELHI, Oct 27 : The agitation demanding the restoration of the Jamia Millia Islamia Students’ Union (JMISU) entered its 16th day on Tuesday, with protesters refusing to withdraw their demonstration despite the university’s assurance that elections would be conducted within 15 days of the approval of the union’s constitution.
The students insist that the administration must announce a definite election date and establish a clear deadline for finalising the constitution. The university has not held students’ union elections since 2006.
The latest development follows an administrative order stating that polls would take place within 15 days after the constitution receives approval. The order also withdrew suspension and show-cause notices issued to students during the agitation and announced an inquiry committee to examine the conduct of security personnel during the protest.
However, the protesters said the decision did not address their principal concern, as it offered no specific timeframe for approving the constitution.
Rehan Khan, one of the students participating in an indefinite hunger strike, had reiterated on Monday that the primary demand was the revival of the students’ union and the announcement of an election schedule.
The university subsequently issued a notice to Khan late Monday, directing him to vacate the protest site immediately and warning of legal action in case of non-compliance.
The administration’s order also stated that the protesting students had agreed to issue a public apology at a press conference for defamatory statements, actions or social media posts directed against the university administration. It instructed them to remove such posts immediately and said the agitation would be called off following the issuance of the order.
The students, however, continued their demonstration, maintaining that the electoral process required a more concrete commitment from the administration.
Tensions escalated on Monday when scuffles broke out between protesters and paramilitary personnel as security arrangements were strengthened on campus. Police personnel prevented students raising slogans against the administration from entering the university premises.
Amid the tense atmosphere, Jamia Millia Islamia shifted classes across all courses to online mode. The university had announced the move on October 24, citing concerns about students’ safety and security.
A notice issued on Monday stated that online classes would continue until November 8, after which the administration would reassess the situation.
Meanwhile, the protest has drawn support from alumni, educationists, artists, lawyers and student organisations, who have called for dialogue and the restoration of democratic representation on campus.
At a press conference organised by the Jamia Collective at Syeda Manzil in Jamia Nagar on Monday, participants expressed solidarity with the protesting students and urged the administration to address their concerns through meaningful discussions.
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 highlighted the importance of student participation in university governance.
Those addressing the gathering included academician Siddiquur Rahman Kidwai, educationist Syeda Hameed and Jamia alumna Sameena Mishra.
In a statement issued after the meeting, participants said students needed an elected representative body to raise their concerns, contribute to university affairs and participate meaningfully in decisions affecting campus life.
They called on the administration to initiate transparent discussions and take practical steps towards resolving the ongoing dispute.
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 about the deployment of security personnel on campus and called for greater accountability.
The university had earlier announced the formation of a committee to prepare the JMISU constitution. It had also indicated that disciplinary proceedings initiated against students in connection with protest-related incidents would be reviewed.
The continuing disagreement centres on the sequence and timing of the electoral process. While the administration has linked the election schedule to the approval of the constitution, students are seeking a definite timeline for both steps.
With the agitation continuing and classes being conducted online, the immediate challenge remains finding a resolution acceptable to the administration and the protesters.
The students’ demand for a clear election schedule has kept the issue of democratic representation at Jamia Millia Islamia at the centre of the campus dispute.