Jamia moves all courses online amid election protests

Jamia Millia Islamia moved all courses online with immediate effect on October 24, citing campus safety as protests over student union elections continued. The university ordered the change to remain in place until further notice and advised students to avoid campus; gates and libraries were also to remain closed, according to its notice. Students began protesting on October 12, demanding restoration of the Jamia Millia Islamia Students Union and an election schedule. The university has not held union elections since 2005 and says the union was dissolved in 2006 after campus violence and disruption. Students have also called for disciplinary action against protesters to be withdrawn and sought changes to university security leadership. The administration said a seven-member committee had held four rounds of talks with students. It also said it notified a separate committee to draft a union constitution on October 21 and offered to review disciplinary action taken or initiated over protests through 5:30 p.m. that day. Students have said a constitution-drafting process does not meet their immediate demand for election dates. Accounts differ over a confrontation on October 24,...