Nearly two decades after the students’ union was dissolved in 2006, Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) has constituted a committee to draft the constitution of the Jamia Millia Islamia Students’ Union (JMISU).
The university said that the move reflects its commitment to safeguarding students’ rights, upholding democratic values, and restoring normalcy on campus.
Amid an ongoing student protest demanding restoration of elected student representation on campus, the university said the committee reached out to the protesting students on 19 October and visited the protest site to initiate a dialogue.
According to an official release by the institute, the committee invited a representative group of students for a discussion at the office of the Dean of Social Sciences. In response to the invitation, student representatives attended the two-hour meeting on 20 October in which their grievances were heard and discussed.
An official notification issued by the Office of Registrar on 21 October announced the constitution of a seven-member committee comprising senior deans and professors. The committee will consider the circumstances leading to the dissolution of JMISU in 2006, various rulings of Competent Courts in relations to JMISU, and recommendations of the Lyngdoh Committee (2007).
According to the official release, the need for a comprehensive examination of the matter arises from the fact that the last students’ union was dissolved in 2006. In the intervening two decades, several developments have taken place, making it necessary to review the issue in the light of the prevailing legal and institutional framework.
Highlighting its efforts to safeguard the well-being of the protesting students, the university mentioned that the administration has deputed a medical team under the supervision of the Chief Medical Officer, Dr Irshad Husain Naqvi, to continuously monitor the health parameters of students on hunger strike. An ambulance has also been stationed at the protest site to ensure immediate medical attention, if the need arises.
The official letter asserted that the university remains committed to providing students with appropriate avenues to express their views, concerns and dissent peacefully, therefore, assigning gate number 18 for students’ protest, aiming to provide “a designated space for students to exercise their right to free expression”.