Campus Tensions Escalate in New Delhi

NEW DELHI — Tensions escalated sharply at Jamia Millia Islamia University on Friday as the administration issued a "final warning" to protesting students, directing them to immediately vacate the Gulistan-e-Ghalib Building and Ghalib Lawn located in the North Campus. The university cautioned that failure to comply would invite strict disciplinary and legal action.

The administrative notice, which was circulated widely by the protesting factions, stated that the ongoing occupation of the building—housing the departments of Political Science and Economics—is entirely unlawful and severely disrupts routine academic activities.

Shift to Online Academics

In response to the mounting unrest and blockades, the university administration has announced that classes for all academic courses will be conducted exclusively in online mode until further notice. Faculty and students have been advised to transition to digital platforms to ensure continuity in the academic calendar.

The unrest stems from a protracted agitation demanding the official restoration of the university's elected students' union, which has remained dissolved since 2006.

Breakdown in Negotiations

Earlier developments had shown signs of a potential breakthrough. On October 26, the administration declared that elections would officially take place within 15 days of the formal approval of the union's constitution. Furthermore, the authorities revoked suspension orders and show-cause notices previously slapped on students during earlier phases of the protests, while promising an investigative committee to probe the conduct of security personnel.

In a reciprocal gesture, the university order claimed that protesting students had agreed to issue public apologies regarding alleged defamatory statements against the administration and remove corresponding social media content.

However, the protesting student collective fiercely rejected the administration's version of events. Declaring that their 14-day agitation will persist until all core demands are met, student leaders confirmed that participants engaged in a hunger strike would continue their fast.

Unresolved Demands

Demonstrators argued that the administration's timeline lacks concrete guarantees, offering no definitive dates for the constitutional approval or the subsequent polling process. Beyond the union elections, the protesters have reiterated their demand for the immediate resignation of the Proctor and the Security Adviser, maintaining that only binding, written commitments from top university officials will pave the way for a resolution.

Reporting by Gaurav Sen for Daily News 365.