The United Students of Jamia Millia Islamia announced on Monday that they are taking a stand against what they describe as the “systemic repression of their voices and the erosion of the university’s foundational values”. According to their statement, students gathered at the Mohibul Hassan Block before marching toward the Dean of Students’ Welfare (DSW) office to present a memorandum outlining their demands. The release said several students of Jamia boycotted classes on Monday in protest against the suspension of 17 students for participating in demonstrations against disciplinary action taken earlier against two PhD scholars.
The students said they have given the administration 48 hours to respond, warning that they will continue their protest if their demands are not addressed, the release added.
The OT has not yet received a statement from the university regarding today’s developments on campus. Once a response is received, it will be updated here.
The release said: “The students presented a memorandum outlining their key demands, which include:
“1) Revocation of the FIR, suspensions, and proceedings of the disciplinary committee against all dissenting students.
“2) An immediate end to the issuance of show-cause notices to students exercising their fundamental rights to protest, organise, and express themselves peacefully.
“3) Revocation of all show-cause notices issued to students for raising their voices.
“4) Repeal of the Office Memoranda dated August 29, 2022, and November 29, 2024.
“5) An end to the witch-hunt against students for expressing dissent.
“6) For withdrawal of the notice penalizing postering and graffiti on Jamia walls.
“However, after presenting the memorandum, the officials remained non-committal, offering only a vague “dekhte hain” in response to the students’ demands…. The students’ gathering was not just a protest but an ode to the principles laid down by Jamia’s forefathers— principles of resistance against oppression, dignity, and the unwavering pursuit of justice. Their struggle is a testament to the enduring spirit of Jamia Millia Islamia and a call to action for all who believe in the power of collective voice and democratic values,” said the release carrying United Students of Jamia.
Today’s development has come a day after when a group of suspended students held a press conference at the Press Club of India on February 16, urging the university administration to meet their six demands.
The students condemned the eviction process and called it “brutal”.
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“On February 14, the Jamia administration publicly displayed the names, photographs, phone numbers, and home addresses of protesting students on lists pasted outside the university gates. This act is not just a gross violation of privacy but a direct invitation for harassment, threats, and violence…. The inclusion of young women in these lists makes it even more dangerous, exposing them to severe risks of gendered harassment and violence. By handing over personal details to the public, the administration has deliberately endangered its own students, making itself complicit in any harm that may follow,” it said.
However, Jamia in a statement on Saturday denied “any role in pasting posters” displaying photographs and personal details of protesting students across the campus walls and blamed “antisocial elements” for the “name-and-shame act”. The university said all the posters have been removed. A committee has been constituted to investigate the matter, it added.
“These individuals [anti-social elements] have nothing to do with the JMI and have made public the photos and details of suspended students on the university’s walls and gates. The university removed these photos from the walls immediately after receiving the information. The JMI strongly condemns such brazen and irresponsible acts,” the university said in a statement.
“The university has constituted a committee to investigate the matter, determine the facts and identify the miscreants, individuals or organisations involved and will take appropriate action against them,” it added.
The incident has blown up.
According to The Statesman, National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) President Varun Choudhary on Saturday wrote to the Vice Chancellor, condemning the action.
“The suspension, police detention, and harassment of students are condemnable. It is shocking to learn that personal data, including details of female students, has been leaked by the administration, jeopardising the safety of students,” the letter stated.
“Universities are meant to be spaces for free thought, democratic expression, and constructive dissent. However, by imposing draconian measures, including issuing orders to curb student protests, Jamia is systematically eroding the democratic rights of its students,” it added.
“We demand the immediate revocation of suspension orders, an end to police intimidation of students, and strict action against those responsible for the data leak. The university must create a safe environment for its students rather than suppressing their voices through fear and repression,” read the letter.
“NSUI stands in solidarity with the students of Jamia and will continue to raise its voice against any injustice or curtailment of democratic rights,” Choudhary said.
According to The Pioneer, the Left-affiliated All India Students’ Association has called for a boycott of classes at Jamia Millia Islamia on Monday, claiming 17 students have been suspended by the university for protesting against the disciplinary action against two PhD scholars.
It is not known whether the students were able to boycott the class. Since morning security was beefed up outside the campus. The conflict erupted when the university suspended two PhD students, accusing them of organising an unauthorized protest in December. The administration justified its decision, claiming that the protests caused disturbances to academic functions and led to property damage, including vandalism at the central canteen and the destruction of the security advisor’s office gate. On the other hand, student activists contended that the university was trying to suppress opposition and free expression.
A disciplinary committee is scheduled to convene on February 25 to assess the involvement of the two scholars in organising “Jamia Resistance Day” on December 15, 2024. The event commemorates the 2019 protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
Two days ago Jamia issued a statement saying that “it is a matter of grave concern for Jamia Millia Islamia that some individuals and anti-social elements have over the last 4-5 days been attempting to defame the image of the university and its students by spreading misleading, defamatory and malicious messages and fabricated videos using their social media accounts and other online platforms”.
Supporting the students, CPI-ML Liberation MP from Bihar’s Karakat, Raja Ram Singh, urged Jamia Vice Chancellor Mazhar Asif to withdraw FIRs against students and remove the university’s Chief Proctor for “illegally publishing personal details of students”, reported Deccan Herald.
