JMI teachers condemn political interference in student protest, cite Congress MP trespass
Synopsis
JMI teachers have broken their silence — and their target isn't the protesting students. By naming Congress MPs who allegedly broke into campus and flagging a former Supreme Court judge's social media intervention, the faculty has drawn a sharp line between internal academic grievance and what it calls orchestrated political escalation at one of India's most watched central universities.
Key Takeaways
JMI teachers on 27 October condemned political actors for attempting to escalate the ongoing student protest into a larger campus crisis.
An FIR was filed on 25 October after Congress MPs Imran Pratapgarhi and Imran Masood allegedly entered the campus unauthorised on 21 October and 23 October respectively.
SP MP Mohibbullah Nadvi was detained while reportedly heading to the campus; other political leaders also visited without prior notice.
Former Supreme Court judge Justice Markandey Katju's social media post criticising the university's order dated 26 October was objected to by teachers.
The current administration is the first in 20 years to initiate steps towards restoring the JMISU , dissolved in 2006 after violent incidents.
A constitution-drafting committee for the students' union was constituted on 21 October and is reviewing court orders and the Lyngdoh Committee Report .
Teachers at Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) on Tuesday, 27 October 2026, publicly condemned what they described as deliberate efforts by political actors to exploit an ongoing student agitation and engineer a larger campus crisis at the New Delhi central university. The condemnation came through an official statement issued by the university's Chief PRO following a high-level internal meeting held on Monday.
What the Meeting Assessed
The meeting, convened by the university administration, brought together Deans of Faculties, Heads of Departments, Directors of Centres, and senior office-bearers including the Controller of Examinations, Chief Proctor, and Hostel Provosts. Discussions centred on reviewing the campus situation, the continuation of online classes, and the demands raised by protesting students, according to the official statement.
Congress MPs Named in FIR Over Unauthorised Entry
Teachers noted that the university administration was compelled to lodge an FIR on 25 October following the unauthorised entry of Congress MPs Imran Pratapgarhi and Imran Masood. According to the statement, Pratapgarhi entered the campus on 21 October by breaking the lock of Gate No. 4A, while Masood scaled a boundary wall near Gafoor Nagar using a ladder on 23 October. Teachers also referred to the detention of Samajwadi Party (SP) MP Mohibbullah Nadvi while he was reportedly en route to the campus, along with visits by other political leaders without prior notice to the administration.
Former Supreme Court Judge's Post Draws Teachers' Objection
Teachers also took issue with a social media post by former Supreme Court judge Justice Markandey Katju, in which he criticised an order issued by the Competent Authority of JMI dated 26 October — pertaining to acknowledging student demands and outlining a roadmap for student politics. While Justice Katju invoked Article 19(1)(c) of the Constitution to support students' right to form a union, teachers contested his portrayal of the university administration as being hostile to democratic rights, calling it contradictory to the facts on the ground.
Steps Towards Restoring the Students' Union
Teachers pointed out that the current administration is the first in 20 years to have taken concrete steps towards reviving the Jamia Millia Islamia Students' Union (JMISU), which was dissolved in 2006 following recurring incidents of violent clashes and attacks on teachers, including the then Vice-Chancellor. A committee to draft the union's constitution was constituted on 21 October, and teachers stressed it must be given adequate time to study relevant court orders, the Lyngdoh Committee Report, and applicable university statutes.
Teachers Call for Outsiders to Stay Away
Reiterating that the university's bonafide students and employees remain its primary stakeholders, teachers called upon all external actors to refrain from actions that could vitiate the campus atmosphere or disrupt academic activities. They expressed disappointment over what they described as continuous attempts to convert an internal university matter into a broader political confrontation. The committee drafting the students' union constitution is expected to submit its recommendations in the coming weeks.
Point of View
It is attempting to reclaim the democratic high ground that Justice Katju's post sought to deny it. The real question is whether the Lyngdoh Committee framework — designed for a different era — is fit for purpose at a politically charged campus in 2026, and whether any committee can operate without further external interference.
NationPress
27 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did JMI teachers condemn political interference in the student protest?
JMI teachers condemned what they described as attempts by political parties to exploit an ongoing internal student agitation and engineer a larger campus crisis. Their statement, issued on 27 October, followed a high-level meeting and referenced unauthorised campus entries by Congress MPs and the detention of an SP MP near the campus.
Why was an FIR filed against Congress MPs Imran Pratapgarhi and Imran Masood?
An FIR was lodged on 25 October after Pratapgarhi allegedly broke the lock of Gate No. 4A to enter the campus on 21 October, and Masood allegedly scaled a boundary wall near Gafoor Nagar using a ladder on 23 October. Both entries were described as unauthorised by the university administration.
What is the Jamia Millia Islamia Students' Union (JMISU) and why was it dissolved?
The JMISU is the students' representative body at JMI, dissolved in 2006 following repeated incidents of violent clashes and attacks on teachers, including the then Vice-Chancellor. The current administration has initiated steps to restore it, forming a constitution-drafting committee on 21 October 2026.
What did former Supreme Court judge Justice Markandey Katju say about the JMI situation?
Justice Katju posted on social media criticising an order by JMI's Competent Authority dated 26 October, invoking Article 19(1)(c) of the Constitution to support students' right to form a union. JMI teachers disputed his characterisation, arguing it misrepresented the administration as being opposed to democratic rights.
What are the next steps for restoring the JMI students' union?
A committee constituted on 21 October is tasked with drafting the students' union constitution, drawing on relevant court orders, the Lyngdoh Committee Report, and applicable university ordinances. Teachers have emphasised the committee must be given adequate time to complete its work without external pressure.
