Overview
- Students launched an indefinite hunger strike on Oct 12 demanding restoration of the Jamia Millia Islamia Students’ Union, which has been defunct since 2006.
- Protesters say security personnel forcibly removed hunger-striking students in a pre-dawn action on Oct 17 and the university has rusticated one student for a year and suspended two others for six months.
- The university announced a seven-member committee of senior deans and professors on Oct 18–19 to meet protesters, examine grievances and report to the vice-chancellor on steps to restore normalcy.
- Campus access and services remain restricted with two libraries closed, gates barricaded and police presence as students re-erected a protest camp near Gate No. 7 and outside groups including NSUI joined support.
- The dispute revives a long-running tension at Jamia over central union polls versus department-level subject associations and the outcome will hinge on whether the committee recommends elections, withdrawal of sanctions or an independent probe into alleged use of force.