Jamia Protest: From hunger strike to Union election order, What fight is about

Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) announced on Monday that it will bring back student union elections, ending a gap of nearly 20 years. The decision follows several days of sustained protests on campus. An official order dated October 26, 2026, issued by the Office of the Registrar at Jamia Millia Islamia, stated, “The administration of the Jamia Millia Islamia Students’ Union Election will take place 15 days after the approval of the union's constitution.

What is this Jamia protest about?

The agitation began on October 12, with students on hunger strike demanding the restoration of the students' union and the withdrawal of disciplinary action. It later widened into a dispute over disciplinary action, campus security and the removal of the university's chief proctor.

By day 13, five students, four men and one woman, were still on hunger strike.

Why is there no union at Jamia?

The Jamia Millia Islamia Students' Union (JMISU) was dissolved in 2006, and no union elections have been held since. Students say they want an elected body that can raise campus-related concerns.

What are the students demanding?

• Restoration of the Jamia Millia Islamia Students' Union
• An official election schedule for the 2026-27 academic session
• A clear written commitment on the election timeline
• Withdrawal of suspensions issued to students
• Withdrawal of show-cause notices and disciplinary proceedings against protesters
• Resignation of the chief proctor, whom protesters hold responsible for the alleged crackdown
• Accountability for the conduct of university security personnel
• An investigation, including a check of campus surveillance footage, into who put up the controversial graffiti, with protesters denying any role

What did the university do?

The administration took several steps over the course of the protest:

• It set up a seven-member high-level committee on October 18 to examine student grievances.
• It formed a separate committee to draft the union's constitution and announced a mechanism to review disciplinary action against protesters.
• The high-level committee recommended a code of conduct and sensitisation training for security personnel after examining complaints about their interactions with students.
• In an appeal on October 23, the committee said announcing elections immediately was premature, as the union had no constitution or electoral mechanism.

The latest order has brought the administration and protesting students closer on several demands, but uncertainty over the constitutional approval process continues to threaten a resolution of the impasse.