JMI Constitutes a High-Level Committee to Address Students’ Grievances and Restore Normalcy on Campus
A meeting of senior university functionaries, Vice Chancellor, Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), Prof. Mazhar Asif; Registrar, JMI; Prof. Md. Mahtab Alam Rizvi; Controller of Examinations, Prof. Ahteshamul Haque; Deans of Faculties, Dean of Students’ Welfare, Dean, Academic Affairs; Chief Proctor; Provosts of all Hostels; Chief Public Relations Officer; and other officials of JMI, was held last evening to deliberate on the demands raised by students who have been sitting on a hunger strike and staging protests.
Following detailed discussions during this meeting, the university has constituted a high-level 7-member committee comprising senior Deans and Professors, to engage in dialogue with the protesting students, examine their demands, and take necessary steps towards restoring peace and ensuring a return to normalcy on the campus.
The University administration remains committed to resolving the matter through constructive dialogue and deliberation, grounded in mutual trust and understanding. It seeks the same spirit of cooperation from the protesting students and other stakeholders. It is worth noting that union elections were dissolved in JMI in 2006, following recurrent incidents of violent clashes, attacks on teachers, and the occasional disruption of classes during that period. In the intervening years, in view of the well-documented history of violent disruptions and frequent shutting down of the campus, the courts have issued no directions to the university. Most recently, in 2022, the Hon’ble Delhi High Court accepted the argument and submission of the Standing Counsel, JMI, and disposed of the matter, giving no directions to the university to conduct elections of Students’ Union, in light of the rampant history of violent clashes on campus in and after 2006.
Nonetheless, the present administration, which assumed office in October 2024, remains committed to finding an amicable resolution to the two-decade-old impasse. It is also important to place on record that Jamia Millia Islamia has instituted a robust and democratic system of subject association elections in each of its departments and centres. Under this system, students vote by secret ballot to elect three office-bearers, namely, the Vice-President, General Secretary, and Joint Secretary in their respective departments and centres. This system has served the students very well through these past years.
The administration reiterates that collaboration is essential to fostering and conserving peace and harmony on campus and ensuring that the academic environment remains conducive and enabling for all students, faculty members, and staff. The present administration calls upon all stakeholders and students to work towards safeguarding the name, reputation, and high national and international ranking of the 106-year-old university.
