Jamia protest: Why students rejected university order despite union election promise

New Delhi: Students protesting at Jamia Millia Islamia in New Delhi have refused to call off their agitation despite a university order stating that students' union elections will be held after the approval of the union constitution. The students have described the assurance as unclear and said they will continue their protest until the administration gives a written commitment to their demands.

According to a statement issued by the Jammu & Kashmir Students Association (JKSA), Jamia Registrar Professor Md Mahtab Alam Rizvi reached the campus at around 4.30 am on Monday (October 26) and held talks with the protesting students. He presented an official order dated October 26 and urged them to end the agitation, saying their demands had been met.

The students said the order did not clearly announce the restoration of the elected students' union or specify when the process would be completed.

“The notice failed to provide a clear and unambiguous announcement regarding the restoration of the students’ union, leaving several key concerns unaddressed,” the association said in its statement.

What does Jamia's order say?

The university's order states that Jamia Millia Islamia Students' Union elections will be held 15 days after the students' union constitution receives approval. However, it does not specify a date for approving the constitution, leaving the election schedule uncertain.

The order also revokes suspension orders and show-cause notices issued to students during the protest. It further announces the formation of a committee to investigate the conduct of university security staff during the agitation.

Students have welcomed neither the order as a complete resolution nor the absence of a deadline. They have also pointed out that their demand for the resignation of the proctor has not been addressed.

“Assurances without concrete decisions and a clear roadmap cannot be treated as fulfilment of our demands,” the association said, adding that the agitation would continue until the administration provided written commitments on their demands.

The association said that the protest was aimed at securing democratic rights and meaningful student representation on campus.

Varsity seeks apology, removal of social media posts

The university's order also sets out conditions on statements made during the agitation. It records an undertaking by the protesting students to issue a public apology at a press conference for allegedly defamatory statements, actions or social media posts directed against the administration.

It also directs the students to remove the posts from social media channels with immediate effect and says compliance will be monitored.

“The protest shall be called off immediately on issue of this order,” the university order states.

The dispute has revolved around students' demands for the restoration of the elected union and the conduct of elections.Students want an elected body to represent them and raise issues related to campus life. Their grievances have also included disciplinary action against proctor and the conduct of university security personnel.

The university's order addresses some of these issues through the withdrawal of suspensions and show-cause notices and a promised inquiry into the conduct of security staff. The students, however, are demanding a definite timeline for approval of the union constitution and the subsequent elections.

ANI said it had contacted the university's public relations department for a response, but no reply had been received at the time of filing the report.

(With inputs from ANI)