Jamia Orders Union Polls, Students Reject Timeline

Jamia Millia Islamia’s administration issued an order on October 26 setting student union elections for 15 days after approval of the union constitution, but protesting students rejected it and said they would continue their hunger strike. The order, issued by Registrar Md Mahtab Alam Rizvi, does not specify when the constitution will be prepared or approved. Students said that omission leaves the election schedule without a clear starting point and does not meet their demand for a definite timeline. The administration also directed the withdrawal of suspension orders and show-cause notices issued to protesting students, and said a committee would be formed to investigate security personnel’s conduct during the protest. The order further required the students to publicly apologise and remove social-media posts about the university administration. Students objected to the order as insufficient, citing the missing constitution timeline and the conditions attached to it. They have said the hunger strike will continue until their demands are addressed. Their protest calls for the restoration of an elected student representative body at the university. The order followed days of...