Fresh protests erupted on the campus of Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) on Monday, hours after the university administration announced plans to resume student union elections after a nearly two-decade hiatus.
Demanding a time-bound election roadmap and the immediate appointment of a chief election officer, student groups refused to call off their ongoing agitation.
Tensions escalated on Monday morning when female students gathered outside Gate No. 7, while Delhi Police detained several protesters raising slogans. The student union (JMISU) elections have remained suspended since 2006, leaving students without an elected body to address administrative, hostel, and academic grievances.
Earlier, following overnight negotiations, JMI Registrar Prof. Mahtab Alam Rizvi announced that elections would take place within 15 days of approving the union’s new constitution.
The administration also revoked suspension notices issued to protesting students and promised an inquiry into security staff conduct.
However, protesters insisted the measures fell short, pointing out that two students remain on a hunger strike. Additional demands include a concrete approval timeline, the reopening of campus libraries and canteens, the resumption of offline classes, and the chief proctor’s resignation.
The university has temporarily shifted all classes to online mode due to safety concerns amid heavy police deployment.
