New Delhi: Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) has shifted classes for all courses to online mode with immediate effect until further notice, citing security concerns following a confrontation between protesters and campus security personnel. The university announced the decision on Saturday, October 24, as tensions continued over demands to restore student union elections.

In a notice issued by the registrar’s office, the university said the move was a precautionary measure intended to ensure students’ safety and security while maintaining continuity in teaching and learning.

“In view of the ongoing situation and in order to ensure the safety and security of bonafide students in 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,” the notice stated.

The communication, dated October 24, was signed by JMI Registrar Mohd Mahtab Alam Rizvi. The administration also directed faculty members to support the transition by providing students with the necessary academic assistance and learning materials.

The decision followed a confrontation on campus involving students protesting against the absence of student union elections and university staff who attempted to persuade them to call off their agitation. The university and student representatives have offered differing accounts of what happened during the confrontation.

University cites student safety and academic continuity

The shift to online classes is intended to allow academic activities to continue while the university addresses the situation on campus. The order applies to all courses and remains in force until further notice.

The registrar’s notice emphasised the need to protect students on campus amid the ongoing agitation. It also instructed faculty members to facilitate online teaching and provide the academic resources required for students to continue their coursework.

The university has not specified in the notice when in-person classes will resume. The decision leaves the timing of a return to normal campus teaching dependent on further instructions from the administration.

Moving classes online is a significant step for the university as the protest over student representation has continued for nearly two weeks. The announcement came after tensions escalated during an attempt by university officials and staff members to persuade protesters to end their agitation.

The administration’s stated priority is to ensure the safety of students while preventing disruption to teaching and learning. However, the shift also reflects the extent to which the ongoing protest has affected normal activities at the institution.

Staff march to Gate No. 7 to appeal to protesters

Earlier on Saturday, more than 1,500 teaching and non-teaching staff members gathered at the lawns of Ansari Auditorium. Vice-Chancellor Mazhar Asif and Registrar Rizvi were also present at the gathering.

The staff members later marched towards Gate No. 7, where students had been protesting, to urge them to call off their agitation.

According to the university administration, staff members spent nearly two hours attempting to persuade the protesters to end the demonstration. The administration said the students continued raising slogans and asked the faculty members to return.

The university further alleged that some protesters pushed security guards, staff members and teachers during the confrontation. Following the incident, the staff members withdrew from the site.

The administration’s account places the confrontation within its efforts to bring the agitation to an end and restore normal functioning on campus.

However, the students’ side has disputed the circumstances surrounding the confrontation, with the Students’ Federation of India (SFI), Jamia unit, making allegations of force being used against protesters.

SFI alleges force against hunger-striking students

The SFI’s Jamia unit alleged that university officials, including the proctor and registrar, along with the security adviser, attempted to forcibly remove students who were on a hunger strike.

According to the student organisation, tents used by the protesters were dismantled and women students were dragged during the confrontation.

The allegations differ from the university administration’s account, which said protesters pushed security guards, teachers and staff members. The claims made by both sides have not been independently established in the information available.

The confrontation has intensified the dispute between the protesting students and the university administration. The students have also demanded the resignation of the chief proctor and the security adviser over the alleged use of force.

The competing accounts underline the disagreement over how the protest was handled and the events that led to the withdrawal of staff members from Gate No. 7.

The shift to online classes was announced later amid the continuing situation, with the university citing safety concerns as the reason for moving teaching activities away from physical classrooms.

Protest centres on restoration of student union elections

The agitation at Jamia Millia Islamia began nearly two weeks ago, with students demanding the restoration of the university’s student union and the resumption of elections.

The protesters have pointed out that student union elections have not been held since 2006. Their central demand is for the university to restore an elected student representative body.

Student unions can provide a platform for students to raise academic and administrative concerns, represent campus interests and participate in discussions about university affairs. At Jamia, the prolonged absence of elections has become the focus of the current agitation.

The protest has continued despite efforts by university staff members to persuade students to call it off. The latest confrontation has brought the issue into sharper focus, with demands for the resignation of senior campus officials adding to the dispute.

The university has not announced any change to its position on student union elections in the notice concerning online classes. The immediate order addresses the conduct of academic activities and the administration’s stated concerns about safety and security.

Online classes to continue until further notice

The decision to move all courses online means faculty members must make arrangements for teaching and academic support outside the physical classroom. The registrar’s office has asked them to provide learning materials and assistance to help students continue their studies.

The university has not provided a specific date for reopening regular in-person classes. Students and faculty members will therefore have to follow further communications from the administration regarding the duration of the online arrangement.

The move comes as the dispute over student union elections remains unresolved and both sides have presented differing accounts of Saturday’s confrontation.

For now, the administration has prioritised student safety and continuity of academic work, while protesters continue to press for elected student representation and accountability over the alleged use of force.

The coming days will be important in determining whether the university and the protesting students can resolve the immediate tensions and whether normal campus activities can resume. Until the administration issues further instructions, classes across Jamia Millia Islamia will remain online.