On October 26, 2026, nearly two weeks after protests began, the administration of Jamia Millia Islamia agreed to most demands, according to the deal, which was made public. The deal was: modalities for conducting elections for the student union, the withdrawal of suspension and show-cause notices, and the conducting of an inquiry into the conduct of security personnel.
Why were Jamia students protesting?
The protests broke out at Jamia Millia Islamia in Delhi on 12 October when students demanded the return of the Jamia Millia Islamia Students’ Union (JMISU).The union election has not been held at the university since 2006. The protesters demanded an elected student union to voice their concerns and an announced date for the re-establishment of the union. As the protest continued, students demanded the rescission of disciplinary warning notices issued to them, and for security staff to be investigated in relation to the events that took place.A few students commenced an indefinite hunger strike in protest, but the administration tried to convince them to abandon the agitation.
Jami’a agrees to organize student union elections
The biggest breakthrough was when the university finally consented to conduct elections for the union within 15 days of the union’s constitution being accepted. The announcement was in line with one of the demands of the protesters, which was for a clear plan towards the reinstatement of elected student representation. The order did not specify when the constitution would be approved by the order, and the precise date of elections was therefore unknown. The university had already put a committee in place to prepare a draft students’ union constitution.
Suspension and show-cause notices withdrawn
The university also agreed to withdraw suspension orders and show-cause notices issued to students during the agitation. The decision was a relief for students facing punishment for their role in the agitation. Pulling the notices had been among the central demands made in talks with the school’s leaders. It was also a crucial element of the deal announced on October 26.
Inquiry into security personnel’s conduct
The treatment by security officials during the protests was the other primary problem cited by students. The university had consented to form a panel to look into the role played by the security staff during the agitation. The investigation is designed to investigate the behaviour that became a source of conflict during the protests. But the fact that an investigation has been ordered does not mean that any individual security officer behaved improperly.The judgment also showed sensitivity towards the protesters’ cry for an inquiry into the happenings of the agitation.
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Why were students asked to apologize publicly?
There was also a provision relating to the statements and social media posts made against the university administration during the protest. As per the university order, the protesting students had consented to publish a press conference to apologise publicly for alleged defamatory words, actions or posts. The order also specified that the social media posts be taken down immediately. The university said it would be in breach of the order if it did not comply. The apology was introduced along with the promises on the elections, disciplinary notices, and the inquiry into security personnel.
Is the protest at Jamia officially over?
Following the declaration of the agreement, the university order was that the protest be discontinued straight away. The administration stated that the document met the primary requests from the students.But there was no fully settled response from the protesters. On October 26, there were reports that some students and their representatives kept raising doubts about the agreement over the absence of a definitive timeline for the union’s constitution to be approved. They also raised other complaints. It is critical to note that while university officials announced an agreement and that protestors should cease, reports of remaining opposition meant that the resolution of the conflict was contested.
What happens next at Jamia Millia Islamia?
The subsequent crucial phase will be to get the students’ union constitution approved and elects completed during that time frame within the 15-time interval as mentioned within the university’s purchase.The administration will also have to reinstate the withdrawal of disciplinary notices and create a committee to investigate security personnel. The question for the students is whether the election proceeds on schedule and what new issues will emerge.
