Students at Jamia Millia Islamia University's Centre for West Asian Studies (CWAS) and Department of Sociology on Thursday, 29 October announced a complete boycott of the university's online classes order, citing disruption of academic progression and research work, and demanding the immediate restoration of on-campus education. The announcement comes as protests at the university entered their 18th consecutive day.

Background: Protests and the Online Classes Order

The current unrest at Jamia Millia Islamia in New Delhi stems from ongoing student protests demanding the reinstatement of the Jamia Millia Islamia Students' Union (JMISU) and the removal of the university's Chief Proctor, following a crackdown on demonstrators. In response to the situation on campus, the university administration directed an extension of online classes until 24 November and announced that all practical and theory examinations for Odd Semester students would be conducted via virtual mode, stating that the campus environment was 'not conducive' for academic activities.

CWAS Students: Research and Archives at Stake

In an official statement, students at the Centre for West Asian Studies declared their complete rejection of the administration's order, calling the indefinite extension of online classes academically untenable. 'The decision to indefinitely extend online classes until the end of the semester and deny physical access to the university campus disrupts our academic progression, research work, and institutional engagement without providing a definitive timeline or engaging in student consultation,' the statement read.

The CWAS students specifically highlighted the irreplaceable nature of physical academic infrastructure. 'For scholars and students at the Centre for West Asian Studies, access to the central library, physical archives, specialised journals, and primary reference materials is fundamental to our coursework and research requirements. These academic resources cannot be replicated or replaced through online platforms,' the statement said.

Students also flagged the financial burden placed on those continuing to pay for hostel accommodation, rented housing, travel, and daily living expenses in Delhi while being denied access to the campus they are paying to use. Issuing a formal Charter of Demands, the CWAS students called for immediate campus restoration, a definite operational schedule, constructive administrative engagement, a deadline for the constitutional draft of the students' union, and academic protection guarantees.

Sociology Department Joins the Boycott

The Student Subject Association of the Department of Sociology also declared a 'complete rejection' of the decision to extend online classes through the entire first semester. The association described the extension as arbitrary and lacking meaningful student consultation. 'Such an arbitrary extension of online education, without a definite timeline or meaningful consultation with students, is unacceptable. If students had wanted to pursue their education entirely online, they could have opted for distance-learning programmes,' the statement noted.

The Sociology association also echoed concerns about students bearing ongoing accommodation, food, and travel costs. Crucially, it pushed back against the administration's framing of protesters, asserting that protesting students 'are not the enemy' of the institution and 'neither a threat.' It urged the administration to provide a clear deadline on the constitutional draft of the students' union as a path to resolution, warning that 'institutional authority must not be exercised in ways that effectively penalise the wider student community for demanding accountability.'

On the Question of Attendance and Collective Consent

Both student bodies addressed a critical procedural concern: that individual attendance at online classes under administrative pressure should not be interpreted as collective acceptance of the university's order. The Sociology association stated that even if a small number of students attended virtual classes under pressure from attendance requirements or fear of academic consequences, 'their participation cannot be interpreted as collective acceptance of the administration's decision.' This framing suggests students are attempting to legally insulate the boycott from being undermined by individual compliance driven by fear of penalties.

What Comes Next

With the university's extended online deadline set for 24 November and protests entering their third week, the standoff shows no immediate sign of resolution. The central demands — restoration of the JMISU, removal of the Chief Proctor, and a return to physical classes — remain unmet. Whether the administration chooses to engage with the student bodies' Charter of Demands or holds its position will likely determine the trajectory of what has become one of the more prolonged campus disputes at Jamia Millia Islamia in recent years.