Jamia Millia Islamia forms panel as hunger strike and student demands raise campus tensions

Jamia Millia Islamia has formed a seven-member committee to hear the grievances of students and seek an end to the present unrest on the campus.

The committee was formed on October 18, on the orders of Vice-Chancellor Professor Mazhar Asif. It includes senior faculty members, among them the deans of Humanities and Languages, Life Sciences, Social Sciences, Students’ Welfare, and Academic Affairs.

The committee has been asked to speak with the protesting students, consider their demands, and submit its report to the Vice-Chancellor at the earliest.

The students have been protesting for the restoration of the Jamia Millia Islamia Students’ Union, which has remained defunct since 2006. They have also called for the withdrawal of disciplinary action against students who took part in the agitation.

Five students began



an indefinite hunger strike on October 12. The protest later moved from the area near Gate No. 18 to Gulistan-i-Ghalib Garden near Gate No. 7.

Tensions rose after the university took disciplinary action against three students. One was suspended for a year, while two others were suspended for six months.

The university has said that the protests were affecting academic work. The students, however, maintain that they have faced difficulty in obtaining permission to protest at the designated site.

The students have also raised matters concerning hostels, drinking water, washrooms, libraries, sports facilities, and campus events.

The university has not yet agreed to restore the students’ union or withdraw the disciplinary orders. The new committee is now expected to examine the matter and report to the Vice-Chancellor.