Students at Jamia Millia Islamia celebrating on Thursday evening.
| Photo Credit: ANI
The Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) administration on Thursday agreed to the protesting students’ demands to set dates for drafting and approving the students’ union constitution and holding elections for the same, following which the protesters called off their 18-day agitation.
Vice-Chancellor Mazhar Asif and Registrar Mahtab Alam Rizvi approached the protesters near Gate No. 7 in Gulistan-e-Ghalib lawns and made the announcement, following which celebrations broke out across the campus, which had been closed during the protest demanding the reinstatement of the students’ union.
As per the Registrar’s order, the constitution will be drafted and approved by May 15, 2027.
Following the order, the administration directed that classes, which had been shifted online last week, resume in person on November 2. It asked all departments to arrange offline examinations as per their timetables.
The university directed students to strictly adhere to academic rules and regulations, adding that physical attendance would be mandatory.
The development came on JMI’s 106th Foundation Day, which the administration and the protesters celebrated separately.
‘Democratic process’
Speaking about the composition of the panel that would draft the students’ union constitution, the Registrar said, “The drafting committee will not only have faculty members and legal experts but also student representatives so that their views come to us in a democratic manner. We will send the draft to all stakeholders for comments, then submit it to the Academic Council, the Executive Council, and then to the Visitor Nominee for final approval.”
He added that after the framework is approved, the university would issue a notification for the elections in accordance with the Lyngdoh Committee recommendations.
The elections will be held within six weeks of July 16, 2027, the beginning of the next academic year.
In his order, Mr. Rizvi stated that all disciplinary notices against students in connection with their participation in the agitation would be revoked.
Police register FIR
Meanwhile, the police registered an FIR, the second since the protest began, against students on Thursday based on a complaint by the administration alleging vandalism on October 27. On the same day, a Special Executive Magistrate remanded two National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) members, who were detained outside the campus on Wednesday, in three days’ judicial custody. Three others arrested on October 26 were released on Thursday.
Ebin Basil, a third-year student and general secretary of NSUI’s Jamia unit, called off his hunger strike, saying, “The university administration has agreed to all the demands we put forward. A special thanks to [IUML MP] Haris Beeran sir. This is a victory for the students and a victory for democracy.”
Talking to reporters in the evening, the MP said he met the V-C during the day to convey the students’ demands. “The Vice-Chancellor, Registrar, and the Dean held a meeting among themselves. Then they came out and said they have accepted all the demands,” he said.
Published – October 30, 2026 04:57 am IST
