Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) shifts all academic classes to an online mode until further notice. This administrative decision comes as the protest reaches its fourteenth day.
Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) in New Delhi has officially shifted all academic classes to an online only format until further notice. This administrative decision was triggered by rising tensions on campus, caused by the student-led protest and an indefinite hunger strike that had stretched into its thirteenth day.
The primary catalyst for the agitation is the students’ ongoing demand for the reinstatement of the university’s student union, a body that has remained inactive since being dissolved back in 2006. While the hunger strike continued to draw attention, the campus atmosphere turned volatile following physical confrontations between protesting students, university staff, and security personnel. Reports and footage from the grounds indicated attempts by authorities to dismantle portions of the protest site, which quickly drew sharp backlash from student organisations.
According to an official notice issued by Registrar Prof. Md. Mahtab Alam Rizvi on 24 October, “In view of the ongoing situation and to ensure the safety and security of bonafide students on the university campus, the competent authority, JMI, has decided to conduct classes of all courses of the university through online mode with immediate effect until further notice.” Moving classes online was deemed a necessary precautionary step to safeguard the safety and security of the student body. The administration highlighted concerns regarding campus stability, the preservation of institutional property, and the smooth continuity of the academic calendar.
Student groups like AISA have criticised these actions, especially after the blockage of an emergency gate on campus and the alleged detainment of multiple protestors and hunger strikers.
According to the Hindustan Times, a 22-year-old master’s student, who requested anonymity, alleged that the administration was attempting to divide the student community by using the term “bonafide students.”
The student further added,
The protest has been going on for around two weeks, and students have remained peaceful. People are joining the movement of their own free will. By claiming that the shift to online classes is aimed at ensuring the safety and security of bona fide students, the administration is only trying to divide students who have united to demand the restoration of the students’ union.”
At present, the physical campus remains heavily regulated, with regular teaching entirely moved to an online mode.
Image Credit: Jamia Millia Islamia Website
Akshita Gossain
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