Students at Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) University in New Delhi on 26 October 2026 categorically rejected the administration's notice, declaring that it fails to provide a clear and unambiguous commitment to restoring the students' union. The protesters stated that their 14-day-long agitation will continue until all demands — including the resignation of the Proctor and the Security Advisor — are fully addressed.

Why Students Rejected the Notice

The Jamia Millia Islamia administration had on Monday announced it would hold students' union elections and constituted a committee to draft a students' union constitution, while also stating that action against protestors would be revoked. However, students issued a counter-statement pushing back sharply against media reports claiming the protest had been called off.

'Certain media reports claiming that Jamia Millia Islamia students have accepted the administration's assurances and called off their 14-day-long protest are based on the university administration's account, not the position of the protesting students,' the student statement read. 'The students have categorically rejected the administration's notice and maintained that their agitation will continue until all their demands are fully addressed.'

Key Gaps in the Administration's Order

Students described the administration's order as a 'vague and inadequate' response, pointing out that it provides neither a definite timeline for approval of the students' union constitution nor a clear roadmap for conducting union elections. The administration's order stated that elections would be held within 15 days of the constitution's approval — but crucially set no deadline for that approval itself.

Notably, the notice makes no mention of the resignation of the Proctor and the Security Advisor, both of whom students have demanded be removed over an alleged crackdown on protesters. Those on hunger strike, the statement confirmed, will continue until their demands are concretely met.

Background: 14 Days of Protest Over Dissolved Union

Students have been protesting since 12 October 2026 to demand the restoration of the Jamia Millia Islamia Students' Union (JMISU), which was dissolved in 2006 — nearly two decades ago. Several students escalated to a hunger strike, demanding both the reinstatement of JMISU and the removal of the university's Chief Proctor, citing a crackdown on demonstrators.

This comes amid a broader pattern of student union disputes at central universities across India, where administrations have periodically suspended or dissolved elected bodies citing disciplinary concerns, only to face sustained agitation from students invoking democratic rights.

Students' Demands Going Forward

In their statement, students insisted that 'general assurances and ambiguous statements cannot be treated as fulfilment of demands.' They called on the administration to issue a 'clear, written commitment with a proper timeline addressing all outstanding concerns, particularly the restoration of the students' union and a definite timeline for the electoral process.'

The students were unequivocal: 'Our agitation will continue until the administration takes concrete and time-bound decisions on all our demands.' All eyes are now on the university administration's next move, with hunger strikers remaining firm and the possibility of further escalation if no concrete timeline is issued.