Democracy Returns to JMI: Administration, students celebrate historic resolution ending 20-year union impasse

Teaching and non-teaching staff of Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) have welcomed the university administration’s decision to resolve the dispute over students’ union elections, describing it as a step towards restoring democratic representation on campus. 

At a thanksgiving programme held on October 30, staff members also demanded strict action against those responsible for writing anti-national slogans and acts of vandalism on the university campus.

More than 2,000 JMI employees attended the programme held at 3:30 pm on the lawns of Ansari Auditorium. They appreciated the administration’s efforts to resolve the issue through discussions with protesting students while ensuring that classes and examinations were not interrupted.

The staff said the administration had held nearly eight meetings with the protesting students before reaching an agreement on the long-pending issue. They described the October 29 order as a significant development that ended a two-decade-long deadlock over student union elections.

Also read After AMU and Jamia, BHU students launch agitation for union polls, on hold for 3 decades

Jamia staff oppose social media posts over union dispute

The employees also criticised social media posts that portrayed the developments as a contest between winners and losers. They said such narratives risked creating divisions within the university community and objected to posts targeting the administration, committee members, proctorial teams and hostel staff.

The staff has further expressed gratitude to the Union government, particularly the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Home Affairs, for their support and guidance during the discussions.

The press statement reads, “Praising the present JMI administration for ending a 20-year-old hiatus, during which successive administrations had either stalled the matter or left it unresolved, the teachers said that the JMI administration had demonstrated an exemplary commitment to democracy, dialogue, and a student-centric approach through its honest willingness and persistent sincerity in resolving the longstanding issue.”

The dispute over student representation at Jamia Millia Islamia Central University had continued for nearly 20 years, with successive university administrations unable to restore the students’ union. The recent protests renewed demands for elections and formal student representation. The administration’s discussions with student representatives eventually led to the restoration of the union’s functioning.

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JMI to restart offline classes, exams

According to the registrar's notice issued on October 29, Jamia has said that offline classes and examinations for all undergraduate and postgraduate programmes will restart from November 2. All mid-semester, end-semester and other examinations will be conducted in offline mode.

The university had earlier extended online classes until November 24 and said that practical and viva examinations for the odd semester would be conducted online amid the protests. Students have now been asked to attend classes regularly and appear for examinations.