Jamia Millia Islamia Agrees to Hold Student Union Elections, but Some Protesters Still Demand a Clear Timeline
Jamia Millia Islamia has agreed to hold students' union elections, revoked suspension and show-cause notices issued during the protest, and announced an inquiry into the conduct of security personnel. However, the announcement has not resolved the dispute, as some protesting students have questioned the order and demanded a clear timeline for the election process.
The protest began on October 12, with students demanding the restoration of the Jamia Millia Islamia Students' Union (JMISU). The university has not held student union elections since 2006. Students have argued that an elected union would give them a formal way to raise campus-related concerns and represent their interests. They have also demanded the withdrawal of disciplinary action taken against protesters and an inquiry into the alleged mistreatment of students by security personnel. Some protesters have sought the resignation of the university's Chief Proctor.
The university issued the order on October 26, 2026, following talks between the administration and student representatives. According to the order issued by the Registrar's Office, the university will conduct student union elections 15 days after the union's constitution is approved. The administration has also revoked suspension orders and show-cause notices issued to students during the protest. A committee will be formed to investigate the actions of security staff during the agitation. The order also records the protesters' undertaking to issue a public apology for statements, actions or social media posts considered defamatory towards the administration and to remove such posts.
The order does not specify when the constitution will be approved, which has become a major point of disagreement. Some protesters have described the order as unclear because it does not give a fixed deadline for approving the constitution or a specific election date. They have also said their demand for action against the Chief Proctor remains unresolved. While some reports said the protest had been called off, other reports on Monday said students remained dissatisfied and that the agitation was continuing.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：印度新德里贾米亚米利亚伊斯兰大学校园（资料图）。照片：Wiki1957BOY，CC BY-SA 4.0，经维基共享资源。 / The Jamia Millia Islamia campus in New Delhi, India (file photo). Photo: Wiki1957BOY, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
