The Students’ Union of JNU has sat on an indefinite strike as it demands immediate reforms in infrastructure and hostel facilities, restoration of the JNUEE exam, alongside raising allegations of admission irregularities and unjust rustication of office-bearers.
Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU) office-bearers and 14 other students have been sitting on an indefinite hunger strike since 3 October 2026, demanding that rustication orders against office-bearers be addressed, along with deteriorating university and hostel infrastructure, students’ rights and social justice.
JNUSU President Aditi, Vice-President Gopika and General Secretary Sunil are among the students currently observing the hunger strike.
The office-bearers have been rusticated for several months following protests earlier this month, and the union has opposed this disciplinary action, arguing for reinstatement. They have also called for a review of the Chief Proctor Office (CPO) Manual, as it has been alleged that its provisions negatively affect students’ rights and their participation in campus affairs.
For their infrastructure demands, JNUSU has demanded a fundamental overhaul of basic facilities, including renovation and upgradation of hostels, expansion of library seating, and lifts, especially in Kaveri, Periyar, and Godavari hostels. The students have also raised a demand for the repair of campus roads and gender-neutral washrooms in the Health Centre, accompanied by functional mess and Wi-Fi facilities in Barak Hostel.
The students have also raised a demand for the reinstatement of the Gender Sensitization Committee Against Sexual Harassment (GCASH), restoration of the JNU Entrance Exam (JNUEE), and reform of the Equal Opportunity Cell (EOC) in accordance with the principles of the Rohith Act. Alongside this, the union is also demanding an independent inquiry into a recruitment scam through the Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC), an increase in MCM scholarships, provision of hostel accommodation for PhD students until the submission of their thesis, reservation norms in hostel allotment and their enforcement, along with student representation in university councils and committees.
The JNU Students’ Union alleges intimidation and threats by the chief security officer sent by the university administration. The officer, according to JNUSU, declared the hunger strike illegal and threatened an office-bearer with rustication and an out-of-bounds order. The students were also warned that their rustication periods could be extended, and they allege that the administration denied medical check-ups to office-bearers sitting on strike.
JNUSU has sent a message to the Vice-Chancellor announcing that the hunger strike would continue until all its demands are met.
Image Source: The Tribune
Tiya Mittal
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