Jamia Promises Union Polls After Constitution Approval but Students Refuse to Call Off Protest
Jamia Millia Islamia in New Delhi has announced that student union elections will be held within 15 days of the approval of the union constitution. However, students protesting for the restoration of an elected representative body have rejected the university's announcement, arguing that it does not provide a clear timeline for completing the process.
The development follows nearly two weeks of protests and hunger strikes demanding the restoration of the Jamia Millia Islamia Students' Union. Students have argued that the university must provide a firm commitment to elections rather than leave the process dependent on an approval date that has not yet been announced.
In an order issued on October 26, 2026, the university administration also announced the withdrawal of suspension and show cause notices issued to students during the agitation. It further said a committee would be constituted to examine the conduct of security personnel during the protest.
Despite these assurances, the disagreement between the administration and protesters continues.
What Did Jamia's Latest Order Say?
According to the order issued by the university registrar, student union elections will take place 15 days after the approval of the union constitution.
The announcement represents a formal commitment to holding elections, but it does not specify when the constitution itself will receive approval. This has become the central point of disagreement between the university and the protesting students.
Students have argued that the election process could remain uncertain if the administration does not establish a deadline for approving the constitution. They want a clear and binding schedule that explains when the constitution will be finalised and when students can expect to vote.
The administration has also agreed to revoke suspension and show cause notices issued during the protest period. In addition, it has proposed forming a committee to investigate the conduct of security staff during the agitation.
The order includes conditions concerning public statements made against the administration during the protest. It calls for a public apology at a press conference over alleged defamatory statements, actions or social media posts, along with the removal of the relevant posts.
These conditions have added to the disagreement over whether the administration's announcement addresses all the concerns raised by students.
Why Are Students Continuing Their Protest?
The protesting students have maintained that the latest announcement does not provide sufficient clarity on the restoration of the elected union.
Their primary demand is the return of a university wide student representative body through elections. They have also sought the withdrawal of disciplinary action taken during the agitation and accountability regarding the conduct of security personnel.
Students have questioned why the administration has linked elections to the approval of a constitution without announcing a deadline for that approval.
From their perspective, a commitment to hold elections after an unspecified administrative step does not provide certainty about when voting will actually take place.
The protesters have also raised concerns about the administration's handling of the agitation and have demanded action on other issues, including the role of university officials.
The university, meanwhile, has urged students to end the protest, maintaining that its latest order addresses important demands. The two sides therefore remain at odds over whether the announced measures are sufficient to resolve the dispute.
Why Is the Student Union Issue Important?
The Jamia Millia Islamia Students' Union has remained inactive since 2006, when the university dissolved the elected body following campus disturbances.
Since then, questions about student representation have periodically returned to the centre of campus discussions.
Students demanding the union's restoration argue that an elected body would provide a formal platform to represent concerns related to academic facilities, campus administration, student welfare and other university matters.
They maintain that a university wide elected union would offer a different form of representation from departmental or subject based associations.
The current agitation has therefore developed beyond a demand for a single election date. It reflects a wider disagreement about how students should participate in university decision making and how their representatives should be selected.
How Did the Agitation Develop?
The latest protest began on October 12, 2026, when students started an indefinite hunger strike demanding the restoration of the union.
The agitation continued for nearly two weeks, with additional students joining the protest. Negotiations between the administration and protesters took place as pressure increased to resolve the dispute.
On October 21, the university announced the formation of a committee to draft the student union constitution. However, students continued their agitation because they wanted a definite election schedule and further assurances regarding their other demands.
The campus situation became more tense during the following days. The university shifted classes online amid the escalating situation and imposed restrictions on campus access and facilities.
The administration subsequently issued its October 26 order setting out the election commitment, the withdrawal of disciplinary notices and the proposed inquiry into security staff conduct.
Students nevertheless maintained that the announcement did not resolve the central issue of a definite timeline for approving the constitution.
