JMI Teachers Condemn Political Interference and Attempts by ‘outsiders’ to Destabilise Campus
In a strong denunciation of political interference and attempts to destabilise the university campus and disrupt the teaching-learning process, teachers of Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) expressed their sharp disapproval and condemnation of concerted and repeated efforts by political actors to escalate the on-going student protest and orchestrate a larger crisis.
The concerns were raised at a meeting held yesterday i.e. October 26, 2026 with the Deans of Faculties, Heads of Departments, Directors of Centres, and key university officials, including the Controller of Examinations, Chief Proctor, Hostel Provosts and other office-bearers. The meeting was convened to assess the campus situation, review the duration of online classes and deliberate on the demands raised by protesting students.
The teachers expressed deep shock and sharp criticism over a Facebook post by former Supreme Court judge Justice Markandey Katju criticising an order issued by the Competent Authority, JMI, dated October 26, 2026, concerning the acceptance of the demand letter submitted on 26.10.2026 by the students on hunger strike and following that allowing that 1) Students’ Union elections will be held after 15 days from the date of approval of the Constitution of the students’ union , 2) the revocation of suspension and show-cause notices issued to students during the period of the protest and that 3) a committee will be formed to enquire into the actions of the security staff during the period of the protest. While Justice Katju invoked Article 19(1) (c) of the Constitution in support of the students’ right to form a union, the teachers questioned his portrayal of the university administration as being opposed to students’ democratic rights which was in contradiction with the very spirit of the above mentioned order issued by JMI administration on October 26, 2026. The teachers pointed out that the current administration has initiated concrete steps towards restoring the Jamia Millia Islamia Students’ Union (JMISU), which was dissolved in 2006 following recurring incidents of violent clashes and attacks on teachers, including the then Vice-Chancellor, they recalled. They emphasised that this is the first administration in 20 years to have taken tangible and effective steps towards addressing the issue which had been lying unaddressed for all these years.
The teachers also emphasized that a draft constitution committee was constituted on October 21 and must be given adequate time to examine the relevant court orders, the recommendations of the Lyngdoh Committee Report, and the applicable university ordinances and statutes.
Teachers further expressed grave concern over attempts by political parties to politicise an internal university matter. The teachers noted that the university administration was compelled to lodge an FIR on October 25 following the unauthorised entry of Congress MPs Mr. Imran Pratapgarhi and Mr. Imran Masood. While Mr Imran Pratapgarhi entered the campus on October 21 after breaking the lock of Gate No. 4 A, Mr Imran Masood entered the campus on October 23 by scaling a boundary wall near Gafoor Nagar with the help of a ladder, it was noted by the teachers. They also referred to the detention of Samajwadi Party MP Mohibbullah Nadvi while he was on his way to the campus, and the visits of other political leaders without prior intimation to the administration.
The teachers expressed anguish that, amid the on-going protest, persons from ‘outside the university’ had occupied and locked the Departments of Political Science and Economics building block since October 24. They further noted with anguish that the situation had compelled the university to shift to online teaching from that date until the Diwali holidays, subject to further review.
The Deans, Heads, Directors and members of the high-level committee, also questioned the timing and intent of a joint press conference announced by ‘a group of alumni, members of Jamia’s founding families, artists, journalists, lawyers and other concerned citizens in support of the protesting students’ yesterday.
The teachers expressed disappointment over what they described as continuous attempts by external forces and actors to turn an internal university matter into a larger political confrontation, despite ‘exemplary efforts’ by the administration to deliberate and engage with protesting students and address their demand, which had been lying unresolved for the past 2 decades.
Reiterating that the university’s bona fide students and employees are its primary and genuine stakeholders, the teachers called upon outsiders to refrain from actions that could vitiate the campus atmosphere or disrupt academic activities. They asserted that no attempt to destabilise the university or interfere with its smooth academic functioning should be tolerated.
