Jamia Student Union Elections Resume

Synopsis

Jamia Millia Islamia has decided to hold student union elections after a 20-year hiatus; the university has also approved a union constitution. This decision comes after two weeks of protests and hunger strikes. Students had been asking for the return of the elected union, which was dissolved in 2006. The agitation grew stronger after the university took action against protesters after clashes over the protest site and after the university decided to move classes online. Here is what happened, why students were protesting and what Jamia Millia Islamia's latest decision means.

Jamia Student Union Protest: What Actually Happened?

Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) in Delhi witnessed a major student protest in October 2026 over a demand that had remained unresolved for nearly two decades: the restoration of its elected students' union.

The protest began on October 12, when students sat on an indefinite hunger strike demanding the return of the Jamia Millia Islamia Students' Union (JMISU). Their demand was a simple one: the university should announce a clear timeline for holding elections so students could elect representatives to raise their concerns before the administration.

However, the agitation grew over the following days, with five students joining the hunger strike. Some students also raised concerns about campus facilities, hostels, drinking water, washrooms, classrooms, libraries and other academic issues.

The administration initially pointed to the existing subject associations, through which students can raise department-level concerns. However, protesters argued that these associations could not replace a university-wide elected union.

The issue soon escalated beyond the original demand for elections, with disciplinary action against students and disagreements over where the protest could take place.

Why has Jamia not held Student Union Elections since 2006?

Jamia held its last student union election in 2005. On March 31, 2006, Jamia dissolved the elected body because of reports of campus violence, disruption and clashes involving students and teachers.

Jamia's administration worried that union activities could disturb the school environment and interfere with administrative work. In the years that followed, Jamia relied on associations and explored other ways for students to be represented instead of restoring a university-wide elected union.

In 2017, JMI proposed a student council that would include class representatives. However, this was not the same as the elected union that protesters demanded. And the issue also reached the Delhi High Court.

In December 2022, a petition that asked for student union elections was dismissed after JMI argued that the union had been dissolved and that the question of holding elections did not arise; however, this was not a ban on future elections.

As a result, JMI went 20 years without a university-wide elected student union. Students said that this left them without a platform to represent issues that affect the whole campus community.

Why did Jamia students start the protest in October 2026?

The immediate demand was the restoration of the students' union and a definite election schedule. However, three major factors helped the protest grow, which are as follows:

1. Demand for elected student representation:

Students wanted an elected body that could represent their concerns before the university administration. They argued that issues affecting hostels, classrooms, libraries and other facilities needed a stronger, university-wide platform.

2. Aligarh Muslim University agreed to restore elections:

The decision by Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) to restart its student union election process on October 9 became an important trigger. Jamia protesters questioned why elections could be restored at AMU while Jamia continued without an elected union. Students also pointed to universities such as Delhi University and Jawaharlal Nehru University, where student union elections are held.

3. Disciplinary action increased tensions:

On October 16 and 17, the university took disciplinary action against three students involved in the agitation. One student was rusticated for a year, while two others were suspended. The orders also imposed campus restrictions.

The administration alleged that students had participated in an unauthorized sit-in, obstructed staff and disrupted CCTV installation.

Student organizations, meanwhile, alleged that security personnel had manhandled protesters.

Jamia forms a committee to Draft Student Union Constitution

On October 21, JMI announced that a committee of seven people was formed to draft the students' union constitution. The committee was asked to look at the reasons why the student’s union was dissolved in 2006 following the court orders that issued the suggestions made by the Lyngdoh Committee about student elections and the rules of the university.

This move was a step toward bringing the students' union back after nearly 20 years. The protesters kept on a hunger strike because the announcement did not give a clear date for the elections. The students wanted a written promise that would explain when the constitution would be approved and when the voting would happen.

Later, on October 24, the university moved all classes online until further notice because tensions on campus were getting worse. The new rule also put limits on who could enter the campus and how the library operated.

Why has Jamia now Agreed to Hold Student Union Elections?

After talks with the students who were protesting, the university issued a written order on October 26, 2026. The order agrees to hold elections for the student union.

According to the order, the elections will start 15 days after the students’ union constitution is officially approved. It also says that all suspension notices and show-cause letters issued during the protest will be withdrawn.

A committee will be formed to look into how the security personnel behaved during the protest.

This decision came after students kept up their hunger strike even though the university had already started a committee to draft the union’s constitution.

The agreement is not without conditions. The university says the protesters must publicly apologize for any posts or statements made about the administration. They must also delete those posts from the media.

The order also requires the protesters to end their agitation. Still, one major issue remains unresolved: when will the constitution be approved? Since the 15-day countdown for elections starts after that approval, the university has not yet set a date for the polls.

Will Jamia Student Union Elections Happen Soon?

The October 26 order is a significant development because it provides a formal commitment to hold elections after years without an elected union. It also tackles two demands: taking action against protesters and looking into how security staff behaved.

However, students are still unsure if the order fully meets their needs. Reports from October 26 say that protesters are still unhappy because there is no deadline to approve the constitution, and they worry about students who have been sent home or banned from campus.

The next key steps are to approve the constitution, explain the election process and set a date for voting. For now, JMI has written that it will bring back the election process. The exact date for the election is still unknown.