Jamia has announced that student union elections will be held within 15 days of the constitution’s approval, revoked suspension orders and show-cause notices. But the protesters continue their agitation over the lack of a definite election timeline.
Jamia Millia Islamia on Monday issued a “last warning” to two students, Rehan Khan and Ebin Basil, who are on an indefinite hunger strike demanding the restoration of the students’ union, directing them to immediately vacate the protest site and warning of legal and disciplinary action if they fail to comply.
The university has also extended online classes until November 8 and decided to conduct its second mid-term semester examinations online amid continuing protests over the restoration of the students’ union.
The warning comes as the agitation entered its 15th day on Monday, with students refusing to call off their protest despite the university announcing that student union elections would be held within 15 days of the approval of the union’s constitution.
Tense scenes were witnessed at the university on Monday, with police and paramilitary personnel blocking the university gates and stopping students from entering the campus. Several students were seen climbing the gates to gain entry.
At least 40 students were detained during the police action outside Jamia and were subsequently released from the Okhla Industrial Police Station later on Monday night.
STUDENTS SEEK CHANGES TO REGISTRAR’S ORDER
Rehan Khan and Ebin, who continue their indefinite hunger strike, have written to the university seeking modifications to the registrar’s order on their demands.
The students said their demand for the restoration of the Jamia Millia Islamia Students’ Union (JMISU) had not been adequately addressed. The union was dissolved in 2006, and elections have not been held since then.
The hunger-striking students have demanded that the university complete the drafting and approval of the students’ union constitution by December 20. They have also called for elections to be held within 15 days.
Their other demands include the immediate withdrawal of all disciplinary action initiated against students in connection with the protest, including show-cause notices, suspensions, campus bans and rustication orders.
They have also demanded an assurance that no further disciplinary action will be taken against protesting students and sought the resignation of the university’s chief security adviser.
The students have maintained that no protester should be forced to apologise for exercising their constitutional right to peaceful protest. They have said the agitation and hunger strike will continue until their demands are met.
JAMIA ANNOUNCES ELECTION TIMELINE, REVOKES DISCIPLINARY ACTION
Earlier on Monday, the university issued an order stating that student union elections would be held within 15 days of the approval of the union’s constitution. It also announced the revocation of suspension orders and show-cause notices issued to students during the ongoing protest.
The order, issued by Registrar Md Mahtab Alam Rizvi, provided for the constitution of a committee to inquire into the conduct of security personnel during the protest period.
The decisions followed the administration’s consideration of a demand letter submitted by the students on hunger strike and their representatives.
However, the protesting students refused to call off their agitation, arguing that the order did not provide a definite deadline for the approval of the constitution and the announcement of election dates.
“Our first demand was that student union elections should be revived, and dates for polls be declared,” Rehan Khan said, questioning the absence of a deadline for the approval of the constitution.
According to the university’s order, the protesting students had agreed to issue a public apology at a press conference for defamatory statements, actions or social media posts made against the administration during the agitation. The order also directed that such posts be removed from social media platforms with immediate effect.
