National/Alive News: Jamia Millia Islamia University in New Delhi has announced that student union elections will be held within 15 days of the approval of the union’s constitution, potentially paving the way for polls after nearly two decades.
The university has also decided to revoke suspension orders and show-cause notices issued to protesting students and assured them that a committee would be formed to investigate the conduct of security personnel.
However, students have rejected the order as unclear, arguing that it does not specify a timeline for approving the constitution or provide a definite roadmap for restoring the students’ union. They have vowed to continue their agitation until the administration provides written assurances addressing their demands.
According to the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA), Jamia Registrar Professor Md Mahtab Alam Rizvi reached the campus around 4.30 am on Monday to hold discussions with the protesters. He presented an official order dated October 26 and urged the students to call off their agitation, stating that their demands had been addressed.
The students, however, maintained that the order left several key issues unresolved, including their demand for the resignation of the university’s Proctor.
“The notice failed to provide a clear and unambiguous announcement regarding the restoration of the students’ union,” the JKSA said in a statement.
The protest began on October 12, with five students observing a hunger strike for 14 days. The agitation has also led to the campus being shut, with classes shifted to online mode.
The protesting students said their movement was aimed at securing democratic rights and meaningful representation on campus. They maintained that assurances without concrete decisions and a clear timeline could not be considered fulfilment of their demands.
The administration’s next steps are expected to determine whether the ongoing standoff can be resolved.
