Jamia Students Refuse to End Stir, Seek Clear Deadline for Union Elections

Students at Jamia Millia Islamia continued their agitation for the restoration of students’ union elections on Monday despite a university order announcing that polls would be held within 15 days of approval of the union constitution. Scuffles broke out between protesters and paramilitary personnel, while some students were detained and security was tightened.

The university administration had shifted classes across all courses to online mode amid the nearly two-week-long protest. Police personnel prevented students from entering the campus as protesters raised slogans against the administration.

In its order, the university said elections would be conducted within 15 days of the approval of the Jamia Millia Islamia Students’ Union (JMISU) constitution. It also revoked suspension orders and show-cause notices issued to students during the agitation and provided for an inquiry into the conduct of security personnel.

However, the protesting students said the measures were insufficient in the absence of a definite timeline for approving the constitution. Rehan Khan, one of two students currently on an indefinite hunger strike for 12 days, alleged that the administration was attempting to divert attention from their demands.

“Our first demand was that student union elections should be revived and dates for polls be declared,” he said, questioning the lack of a deadline for approving the constitution. Khan alleged that the administration wanted the protesters to accept the order and end their hunger strike. He said the university had indicated that a draft constitution would be prepared by December 20, after which it would be approved and election dates announced within 15 days.

The university’s order followed consideration of a demand letter submitted by the hunger-striking students and their representatives. It also stated that the protesters had agreed to issue a public apology over alleged defamatory statements and social media posts against the administration and remove the posts.

The agitation centres on the restoration of the students’ union, whose elections have not been held since 2006. Protesters have also demanded a time-bound election schedule, withdrawal of disciplinary action and an inquiry into alleged excesses by security personnel. The administration had earlier formed a seven-member faculty committee to hold talks and notified a committee to draft the union constitution on October 21.