Jamia Orders Union Polls as Student Hunger Strike Continues

Jamia Millia Islamia has formally ordered that students' union elections will be held within 15 days once the draft constitution for the body is approved. While the administration has also revoked suspension notices and show-cause orders against protesting students, two fast-unto-death demonstrators are refusing to end their hunger strike due to the lack of clear assurances regarding the resignations of the Vice-Chancellor and the Chief Proctor.

What Triggered the Protests at Jamia Millia Islamia?

The active agitation began on campus after students demanded the immediate restoration of the Jamia Millia Islamia Students' Union (JMISU), which has remained inactive since 2006. Tensions escalated rapidly following alleged manhandling by security guards and administrative crackdowns during peaceful campus gatherings. In response, several students initiated an indefinite hunger strike demanding a time-bound election schedule, an end to disciplinary actions, and an independent inquiry into the conduct of university security staff.

Why Are Students Refusing to End the Fast?

Although the university issued an official directive setting a 15-day window for elections following constitutional approval, student delegates rejected the notification as insufficient. The protesters highlighted that the order fails to specify a clear deadline for when the draft constitution itself will be finalized and approved, leaving room for potential administrative delays. Furthermore, key demands—specifically the immediate resignations of the Vice-Chancellor and the Chief Proctor—were completely unaddressed in the administration's announcement.

How Has the Administration Responded to the Crisis?

To de-escalate the crisis on campus, Jamia's administration set up a high-level committee of senior professors to negotiate with the student representatives. The university announced the revocation of protest-linked suspensions and show-cause notices while agreeing to institute an inquiry into security staff conduct. Additionally, classes across all courses were temporarily shifted to online mode, and campus facilities like libraries were restricted to avoid further clashes at the protest site.

What Is the Current Health Condition of the Fasting Protesters?

With the hunger strike extending past two weeks, doctors monitoring the fasting students have reported alarming declines in health metrics, including severe drops in blood pressure, fluctuating blood sugar levels, and elevated uric acid levels. Despite medical warnings regarding potential long-term damage to vital organs and emergency hospital visits for some participants, two students continue their fast at the protest site, declaring that they will not yield until all demands are met unconditionally.