Jamia Millia Islamia hasn't had a student union since 2006, and students want to change that. On October 12, five students went on an indefinite hunger strike demanding elections, as they felt unrepresented and believed there was no one to hear their concerns. They demanded that a union be formed, just like at other universities in Delhi.
Office of the Chief Public Relations Officer, JMI https://t.co/S0ydd6j8xo
— Jamia Millia Islamia (NAAC A++ Grade Central Univ) (@jmiu_official) October 26, 2026
Later, students alleged that the Chief Proctor's office was removing students from campus for protesting, turning the situation into an uproar as students faced detention and disciplinary action. Two students were suspended, while one was rusticated, further escalating tensions on campus, as the students attempted to climb up the gates of Jamia but were met with heavy deployment from CRPF and delhi police, while classes have been converted to online over safety concerns, and a student named Jasim, on hunger strike for the past 14 days, had fallen ill and was admitted to Holy Family Hospital but was later stable and came back after treatment.
On October 18, JMI formed a high-level committee to engage with the protesting students. The university subsequently formed a committee to draft a constitution for the student union, based on the Lyngdoh Committee recommendations of 2006–07. The committee was asked to submit the draft by December 20.
However, the university's proposal also included demands for the protesting students to end their agitation, issue a public apology for alleged defamatory statements against the administration and remove the relevant social media posts.
The students rejected the earlier proposal, calling it outrageous. They demanded that a proper date be set for the elections, that no disciplinary action be taken against them and that the Chief Proctor be removed.
The old union was dissolved in 2006 amid allegations of threats and violence on the university campus.
Latest development:On October 26, the university agreed to hold student union elections within 15 days of approval of the union constitution. It also revoked protest-related suspension and show-cause notices and announced an inquiry into the conduct of security personnel during the agitation. However, the agreement included conditions requiring the students to apologise publicly for alleged defamatory statements and remove the relevant social media posts. The students had demanded a definite timeline for approving the constitution and continued to raise concerns over the conditions attached to the agreement. But what is the current situation with the students? Have they agreed to this demand is yet to be known
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