Jamia student union elections within 15 days of constitution approval; protesters reject apology clause

Jamia Millia Islamia has agreed to hold students’ union elections within 15 days of approval of the union’s constitution, following nearly two weeks of student protests and hunger strikes. In an order dated October 26, 2026, the university also revoked suspension and show-cause notices issued to students during the agitation and announced an inquiry into the conduct of security staff.

However, protesting students have rejected the conditions recorded in the order, including a public apology for statements and social media posts against the university administration. According to a post by Millat Times English, Ebin Basil, a student on hunger strike, said the students’ demands remained unmet and that the protest would continue.

The university order states: “The Jamia Millia Islamia Student’s Union Election will be held after 15 days, from the date of approval of the constitution of the student’s union of Jamia Millia Islamia.”

The order does not announce a specific election date. Instead, the schedule depends on the approval of the students’ union constitution.

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The latest order follows the university’s October 24 decision to shift all classes online until further notice amid the ongoing campus protest. In its earlier notice, Jamia Millia Islamia cited student safety and the need to ensure continuity of academic activities as reasons for the move. The university had also ordered the closure of Dr Zakir Husain Library and the Old Library.

According to PTI, Jamia Millia Islamia lodged a complaint with the Delhi Police against Congress MPs Imran Masood and Imran Pratapgarhi and others, accusing them of trespassing and inciting unrest during student protests. The Students’ Federation of India alleged that hundreds of students were detained outside Gate 7.

Jamia revokes suspension, show-cause notices

The university has revoked suspension and show-cause notices issued to students during the protest. It has also ordered the formation of a committee to investigate the actions of security staff during the agitation.

The order further states that the protesting students have agreed to issue a public apology through a press conference for defamatory statements, actions and social media posts against the university administration. It directs that the posts be removed from social media channels with immediate effect and says compliance will be monitored.

Students reject apology condition

Ebin Basil rejected the terms in a video shared by Millat Times English, saying the students had faced pressure during discussions with the university administration.

“They called us for a meeting around 2.30 or 3 o’clock at the table, and they put a lot of pressure on us from all sides to sign,” Basil said in the video, as quoted by Millat Times English.

He also questioned the requirement for a public apology, saying, “Why should we apologise? We are not criminals. We haven’t committed any crime.”

Basil said the students had protested peacefully and argued that their demands had not been fully addressed. He also raised concerns about the wording of the order regarding disciplinary action against students, saying it differed from what had been discussed earlier.

According to a post by Maktoob, the order followed talks held in the early hours of Monday. The report said students, including hunger strikers Ebin Basil and Rehan Khan, continued to oppose the conditions, arguing that the election date should be announced.

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Jamia student union elections after two decades

According to ANI, Jamia Millia Islamia has announced the resumption of student union elections after two decades. The university’s order links the election timeline to approval of the students’ union constitution.

The protests have centred on demands to restore an elected students’ union, withdraw disciplinary action against protesters and address concerns about the administration’s handling of the agitation.

The university has directed that the protest be called off immediately following the issuance of its order. However, the reports shared indicate that some protesting students have rejected the conditions, leaving the dispute unresolved.