Jamia Millia Islamia has issued a final warning to two students leading an indefinite hunger strike over the restoration of the students’ union, asking them to vacate the protest site or face disciplinary and legal action. The move comes amid continuing campus unrest, with the university extending online classes until November 8 and shifting its second mid-term examinations online.

Registrar Md Mahtab Alam Rizvi issued the warning to Rehan Khan and Ebin Basil on Monday, as the agitation entered its 15th day. Despite the university announcing a timeline for holding student union elections, the protesters have refused to end their strike, arguing that key demands remain unresolved.

Tensions escalated outside the campus on Monday as police and paramilitary personnel blocked university gates and prevented students from entering. Some students attempted to climb the gates to gain access. At least 40 students were detained during the police action and later released from the Okhla Industrial Police Station on Monday night.

Students seek changes to university order

The two students on hunger strike have written to the university administration seeking amendments to the registrar’s latest order, maintaining that it does not adequately address their demand to restore the Jamia Millia Islamia Students’ Union (JMISU).

The students’ union was dissolved in 2006, and elections have not been held since then.

The protesters want the university to complete the drafting and approval of the union’s constitution by December 20, followed by elections within 15 days. They have also demanded the withdrawal of all disciplinary proceedings linked to the agitation, including show-cause notices, suspensions, campus bans and rustication orders.

Their demands further include an assurance that no additional disciplinary action will be initiated against students participating in the protest, along with the resignation of the university’s chief security adviser.

The hunger-striking students have also insisted that protesters must not be compelled to apologise for exercising their constitutional right to peaceful assembly. They have maintained that the agitation will continue until their demands are addressed.

University announces poll timeline, revokes notices

Earlier on Monday, Jamia announced that student union elections would be held within 15 days of the approval of the union’s constitution. The administration also ordered the revocation of suspension orders and show-cause notices issued to students during the ongoing agitation.

The university said a committee would be constituted to examine the conduct of security personnel during the protest period. The decisions followed consideration of a demand letter submitted by the hunger-striking students and their representatives.

The announcement, however, failed to convince the protesters to call off their agitation. They argued that the order did not specify a firm deadline for approving the constitution or announcing the election schedule.

Rehan Khan questioned the absence of a clear timeline, saying the students’ primary demand was the revival of the union and the declaration of election dates.

The university’s order also stated that the protesting students had agreed to issue a public apology at a press conference over defamatory statements, actions or social media posts directed against the administration during the agitation. It further instructed them to remove such posts from social media platforms immediately.

Online classes, mid-term exams moved online

Separately, Jamia has extended online classes until November 8 and decided to conduct the second mid-term semester examinations online, citing the prevailing security situation.

The university had moved all courses to online teaching from October 24 amid concerns over student safety as tensions intensified around the protest site.

According to Monday’s office order, the extension was decided at a meeting chaired by Vice-Chancellor Mazhar Asif and attended by deans, heads of departments, directors and other university officials. Online classes will continue until the forthcoming Diwali holidays.

The administration said it would assess the campus situation after November 8 before deciding whether online teaching needs to continue.

The respective deans, department heads and directors will determine the arrangements for the online mid-term examinations, including the schedule and procedures, in consultation with the Controller of Examinations.

With the hunger strike continuing and the students rejecting the administration’s latest measures, the dispute over the restoration of the union remains unresolved.