Stir for students’ union enters Day 7 in Jamia

Agitation continued at Jamia Millia Islamia for the seventh consecutive day on Sunday, with the protesters demanding the reinstatement of the students’ union, even as security personnel remained deployed outside the university. The administration, meanwhile, closed two of its main libraries — the Dr. Zakir Husain Library and the Old Library — citing “security reasons”..

This comes a day after the administration initiated disciplinary action against two protesting students amid allegations of “forcibly removal” from gate number 7, a charge denied by the university. The administration, had denied using force and said that students were simply asked to vacate the spot as they were protesting outside the designated area, i.e, gate number 18.

On Sunday morning, Delhi Police officials met with the protesting students and requested them to end their stir. However, the students continued their hunger strike at gate number 7, despite two of them facing serious health issues. The students were only allowed to enter with a valid ID card by the Jamia security guards, while the protesting students claimed that they were not allowed to go out of the campus. 

‘Without a voice’

The students held a press conference from behind the university gates. “For nearly two decades, we have lived without a voice. The Jamia Millia Islamia Students’ Union (JMISU) -- the highest body of campus democracy -- has been dysfunctional since 2006. An entire generation of students has entered and left this university without a legitimate platform to raise their concerns,” said Neville, a protesting student.

Regarding obtaining permission for the designated protest site, Mr. Neville said, “The rule for gate no. 18 is that one has to seek permission for protests, which requires the written permission to be signed off by the department heads. It is a document that can be used against you and departments don’t sign it, by design making it impossible to get permission.”.

“Today, there is no meaningful channel through which students can raise their issues. The existing mechanism of writing to the Dean of Students’ Welfare (DSW) is a hollow formality that rarely produces any outcome,” said Mr. Neville. 

“Students who speak up are punished. Detentions and suspensions for raising our voices has prevented students from coming forward and putting forth their demands,” said Saurabh, another student protester who joined from outside the campus. 

Among those on the hunger strike, Ebin Basil, general secretary of the National Students’ Union of India, Jamia unit, has been advised by doctors to end his fast. “His condition is a little critical now. He has been advised to be admitted to a hospital,” Mr. Neville added. Basil was rusticated for a year on Saturday, while Jasim Ali, a postgraduate student, received a six-month campus ban.

Students are also demanding the resignation of Chief Proctor Prof. Mohammad Asad Malik over the alleged use of force to remove them on Saturday.

Supporting the protest, NSUI national president posted on X: “Student unions are the first schools of democracy. Instead of suppressing the voices of students, they should be given the right to express their views and choose their representatives. This fight of Jamia’s students is not just about elections, but a fight for student rights, democracy, and the freedom of expression on campus.”