The student protest at Jamia Millia Islamia has fractured after the university administration issued an order addressing core demands, including a framework for restoring the long-suspended students’ union, according to a CNN-News18 breaking report from the campus on Monday morning.
One group of protesters agreed to end the agitation following the administration’s assurances, while another faction has rejected the terms as incomplete and continues sit-ins and demands for further talks. The situation remains fluid as discussions proceed.
The protest, which began around October 12, centers on the restoration of the Jamia Millia Islamia Students’ Union (JMISU). Elections to the body were last held around 2005 and the union was dissolved in 2006 following campus violence and academic disruptions. Students have demanded a clear election schedule, revocation of disciplinary actions taken during the agitation, and accountability for security personnel’s conduct.
The campaign involved indefinite hunger strikes by several students, sit-ins (including at Gate No. 7 and other campus sites), and periods of confrontation with security forces. The university shifted classes online and restricted campus access citing safety concerns, amid heavy police deployment.
In an order dated October 26 issued by the Registrar’s office, the administration stated that students’ union elections would be held 15 days after approval of the union constitution. It also revoked suspension orders and show-cause notices issued to students during the protest and announced the formation of a committee to inquire into the actions of security staff.
The order records an undertaking by participating students to issue a public apology via press conference for any defamatory statements or social media posts against the administration and to remove such content, with compliance to be monitored. It directed that the protest be called off immediately upon issuance of the order.
CNN-News18 reported that one group of students signed a letter or notice agreeing to withdraw the agitation after the administration’s response. However, another section of protesters has continued the sit-in, arguing that the order lacks a definite timeline for approving the constitution or fixing an election date, and that additional assurances remain unmet.
Some students were still present under tents at Gate No. 7. Earlier campus scenes captured in coverage showed standoffs, security deployments, and gatherings near university gates.
The agitation has also drawn political attention. Delhi Police registered an FIR against three opposition MPs following a university complaint alleging trespass and incitement during the protests.
Campus graffiti and slogans, including references to “Free Kashmir” and the release of Sharjeel Imam, sparked separate controversy and political exchanges. The News18 report included campus visuals and interviews with political figures commenting on the standoff and related issues.
University officials have maintained that procedural steps—such as drafting a constitution consistent with current regulations—must precede elections after a nearly 20-year gap. Protesters from various student groups have pressed for more immediate and binding commitments. With the protest now divided and some hunger strikers or sit-in participants still engaged, the campus situation continues to evolve.