Jamia Protest: HLC appeals to students to end agitation, cooperate with JMISU drafting committee

Jamia Millia Islamia’s (JMI) High Level Committee (HLC) has appealed to protesting students to call off their agitation and extend cooperation to the committee constituted to draft the Jamia Millia Islamia Students’ Union (JMISU) constitution. The HLC said announcing election dates would be premature without a constitution and a mechanism for conducting elections.

In an appeal dated October 23, the HLC said it had held three rounds of consultations with protesting students to examine their demands. The committee said it had secured a notification for the JMI-SU Constitution Draft Committee from the vice-chancellor and registrar, who agreed to constitute the drafting committee under the JMI Act.

Also read ISRO communication and media scholar India’s sole representative from field in world top 2% scientists list

The HLC said the drafting committee was a necessary first step towards conducting JMISU elections. It added that the committee had been constituted and notified within 24 hours of the HLC’s recommendations.

HLC asks Jamia to review disciplinary action

The HLC said the students’ delegation had demanded the withdrawal of disciplinary action against protesting students. The committee said it had urged the university authorities to review all disciplinary action taken after October 12, 2026.

According to the appeal, a notification had already been issued in this regard, allowing protesting students to seek relief. The HLC said it had agreed to the demand for a review of disciplinary action.

The HLC also addressed the demand for the removal of the security adviser and chief proctor. It said most grievances raised by students related to friction with security personnel, which it described as incidents caused in the heat of the moment.

Also read ‘Didn't call police,’ IIT Bombay deputy director tells faculty members; prof questions response

The committee said no instance of deliberate, planned or calculated unfair treatment had been brought to its notice. However, taking cognisance of the issues raised by students, it recommended a Model Code of Conduct for security personnel and rigorous sensitisation training to help them deal with students.

HLC says election dates , general body meeting updates

The HLC said the timeframe for elections was the only point of disagreement during discussions with the students’ delegation. It said students wanted union election dates to be announced immediately. However, the committee said the demand was premature because there was no constitution in place, no mechanism for conducting elections and no necessary framework for the process. It said the constitution drafting committee had been constituted as the first crucial step towards holding JMISU elections.

Also read Boomerang effect? Jadavpur bookstalls report fourfold rise in sales after Durga Puja attack sparks resistance

The HLC urged students, teachers, non-teaching staff and alumni to persuade the protesting students to call off their agitation and cooperate with the drafting committee. It said continuing the protest could potentially delay the formation of JMISU. The committee said issues were best resolved through dialogue, mutual understanding, trust and institutional processes.

Separately, Jamia Millia Islamia students held a general body meeting at the university’s Ghalib Lawn on Thursday, with hundreds participating to demand the restoration of the students’ union, according to a Press Trust of India (PTI) report dated October 23. The meeting was organised to support the ongoing hunger strike and sit-in protest and to press the administration to announce the election dates. Student organisations said the large turnout reflected support for the protest. The report added that students had not agreed to the proposed resolution and were continuing their protest.