Jamia Millia Islamia students end protest after university agrees to hold union elections

Jamia Millia Islamia’s protest comes to a formal close

On October 26, Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) announced an agreement with the protesting students that effectively ends the two‑week agitation over the dormant students’ union. The university’s order, signed by Registrar Prof. Md Mahtab Alam Rizvi, revokes all suspension and show‑cause notices issued during the unrest and mandates that elections for the Jamia Millia Islamia Students’ Union (JMISU) be conducted within fifteen days of the union constitution’s approval.

How the standoff unfolded

The protest began on October 12, when students and alumni set up a sit‑in at Gate No 7, demanding the restoration of a student‑union that has not been elected since 2006. Over the following days, four students embarked on an indefinite hunger strike while a PhD scholar identified only as Sanam staged an indefinite sit‑in on the Gulistan‑e‑Ghalib lawns. The university responded by moving all classes online on Saturday and sealing campus gates and libraries.

Security tensions escalated when Delhi Police, acting on a complaint from the university, registered an FIR for alleged trespassing and defacement. The FIR names two Congress MPs – Imran Masood and Imran Pratapgarhi – along with several unidentified individuals. Police also added a charge for graffiti that featured slogans such as “Free Kashmir,” “Free Sharjeel Imam” and anti‑RSS messages, though protesters have denied responsibility.

The decisive step forward

Early on Monday, Registrar Rizvi arrived on campus around 4:30 a.m. and presented the official order to the demonstrators. The document not only lifts the disciplinary actions but also establishes a committee to investigate the conduct of security personnel during the protest. In exchange, students agreed to call off the agitation immediately and to apologise publicly at a press conference for any alleged offensive remarks made on social media.

Vice‑Chancellor Mazhar Asif, accompanied by more than 1,500 teaching and non‑teaching staff, marched from the Ansari Auditorium lawns to Gate 7 earlier in the week, urging the protesters to end the sit‑in. The administration’s persistence, coupled with the police’s readiness to enforce law and order, paved the way for the settlement.

What comes next

The university has pledged to finalise the union constitution within the next few days, after which the election timetable will be set. Campus life is expected to normalise swiftly, with offline classes likely to resume once the gates are reopened. The move is being presented as a demonstration of institutional resilience and a commitment to student representation, reinforcing the broader narrative of stability in Delhi’s higher‑education sector.

The resolution underscores JMI’s willingness to engage constructively with its student body while maintaining campus security, a balance that aligns with national priorities of educational continuity and civic order.