Jamia forms student union panel after 20 years; protesters reject it, strike continues
By TUF News Desk · Published 22 October 2026 · 3 min read
Fact-checked against 2+ independent sources · Editorial policy
Eleven days into a hunger strike, Jamia Millia Islamia moved on the one demand it could no longer ignore. On Wednesday, October 21, the university notified a five-member committee to draft a constitution for its student union, a body that has not existed on the campus since 2006.
The committee will be chaired by Prof Zubair Meenai, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences. The other members are Prof Luqman Ahmad Khan, Dean of the Faculty of Life Sciences; Prof Neelofar Afzal, Dean of Students Welfare; Prof Amarjeet Singh; and Prof Aslam Khan. The panel has until December 20 to submit a draft, after consulting stakeholders including students.
The mandate covers the whole 20-year gap. Drafting under Articles 23(J) and (K) of the JMI Act, 1988, the committee must examine the circumstances that led to the union’s dissolution in 2006, consider relevant court rulings and the Lyngdoh Committee’s 2007 recommendations on student elections, and weigh the university’s existing ordinances and statutes.
How the decision was reached
The order came from a meeting chaired by Vice-Chancellor Prof Mazhar Asif, acting on the recommendation of a seven-member high-level committee the university had set up on October 18 to talk to the protesters. That panel visited the protest site on October 19, held a two-hour discussion with student representatives at the Dean of Social Sciences’ office on October 20, and finalised the minutes of the talks that evening.
The protesters said no
The response from Ghalib Lawns was a rejection. Students said the notification carries no dated schedule for elections in 2026-27, does not withdraw the disciplinary action taken against them, and puts no student representative on the drafting committee. The hunger strike, which five students began on October 12, is continuing.
The university has said separately that it will review the disciplinary action taken against students involved in the protests. A medical team led by the university’s chief medical officer has been stationed at the protest site, with an ambulance on standby, according to The Tribune.
The agitation has drawn support from MPs, alumni and student leaders from DUSU, JNUSU and AMU, according to The New Indian Express. The administration, for its part, has alleged that the Ghalib statue and university property were damaged during the protests.
What this could mean
If the committee delivers a draft constitution by December 20, it would be the first concrete step toward student elections at Jamia in two decades. But the immediate question is whether the protesters accept the committee’s work as a substitute for an election date, and so far their answer is no.
For students comparing universities, how a campus handles student representation says something about campus life. Our guide on how to choose a university in India covers what to check beyond courses and fees.
Frequently asked questions
What has Jamia Millia Islamia announced about its student union?
On October 21, the university formed a five-member committee chaired by Prof Zubair Meenai to draft a constitution for the Jamia Millia Islamia Students’ Union, with a deadline of December 20, 2026.
Why are Jamia students still protesting?
The protesters rejected the committee because it names no election date and has no student representative. Their hunger strike, which began on October 12, is continuing at Ghalib Lawns.
When was the Jamia student union dissolved?
In 2006, after violent clashes and campus disruptions. No student union election has been held at Jamia in the 20 years since.
Frequently asked questions
What has Jamia Millia Islamia announced about its student union?
On October 21, the university formed a five-member committee chaired by Prof Zubair Meenai to draft a constitution for the Jamia Millia Islamia Students' Union, with a deadline of December 20, 2026.
Why are Jamia students still protesting?
The protesters rejected the committee because it names no election date and has no student representative. Their hunger strike, which began on October 12, is continuing at Ghalib Lawns.
When was the Jamia student union dissolved?
In 2006, after violent clashes and campus disruptions. No student union election has been held at Jamia in the 20 years since.
Sources: Hindustan Times, The Tribune, Deccan Herald, The New Indian Express