Politics · India · 16 hrs ago
Jamia Millia Islamia forms committee amid protests over student union
At Jamia Millia Islamia in New Delhi, students are protesting for the return of their elected student union.
The university says it stopped union elections in 2006 after violent clashes, attacks on teachers and class disruptions.
Students began an indefinite hunger strike in October, and the protest continued despite police removing demonstrators from campus; the university disputes claims that force was used.
The administration has now formed a seven-member committee to talk with protesters, examine their demands and work to restore normalcy.
The dispute matters because students say they lack a meaningful way to represent their concerns and choose their leaders.
The university points to elections for subject associations within departments as an existing way for students to elect representatives.
The committee has set no timeline or outcome, so it is not yet clear whether union elections will return; discussions are still awaited.
Jamia Millia Islamia announced a seven-member committee on October 19 to meet protesting students and examine their demands.
Students are demanding the restoration of the university’s students’ union, whose elections were discontinued in 2006.
The university said it aims to resolve the matter through dialogue and restore peace and normalcy on campus.
The committee’s announcement followed hunger strikes and protests, including the removal of protesters from campus by police and security personnel.
The university has not said whether the committee will recommend restoring the union or when it will finish its work.
- Who
- Jamia Millia Islamia and students protesting for the restoration of the students’ union.
- What
- The university formed a seven-member committee to speak with protesters and examine their demands.
- When
- October 19, 2026.
- Where
- Jamia Millia Islamia in New Delhi.
- Why
- Students are demanding the restoration of the students’ union. The university says elections were discontinued in 2006 after violent clashes, attacks on teachers and class disruptions.
Jamia Millia Islamia administration
Protesting students
Union elections
Jamia Millia Islamia administration
The university says elections were discontinued in 2006 after repeated violence, attacks on teachers and disruptions to classes.
Protesting students
Students are demanding the union’s restoration and say it is a needed platform to represent them.
Protests and campus access
Jamia Millia Islamia administration
The university said protesters were asked to leave a spot outside the designated protest area and cited security reasons for closing two libraries.
Protesting students
Protesters said they were forcibly removed and argue that restrictions and disciplinary actions hinder their right to raise concerns.
Three students began an indefinite hunger strike at Gate No. 18, demanding restoration of the students’ union.
Five students were on hunger strike, and the university took disciplinary action against protesters.
Police and security personnel removed protesters from campus, according to student accounts.
The university announced a seven-member committee to engage with protesters and examine their demands.
- Committee
- Seven members
- Committee announced
- October 19, 2026
- Hunger strike began
- October 12 at Gate No. 18
- Union elections discontinued
- 2006
- Libraries closed
- Dr. Zakir Husain Library and Old Library
3 sources
What people are saying
The administration said it intends to resolve the matter through dialogue and called on students and other stakeholders to cooperate.
For nearly two decades, we have lived without a voice.
Today, there is no meaningful channel through which students can raise their issues.
It was early in the morning, and we were not even raising slogans.
Posts on X
Office of the Chief Public Relations Officer Jamia Millia Islamia Important Press Release JMI Constitutes a High-Level Committee to Address Students' Grievances and Restore Normalcy on Campus New Delhi, October 19, 2026. A meeting of senior university functionaries, Vice