JMI Teaching, Non-Teaching Staff Condemn ‘Objectionable Slogans’; University Shifts Classes Online

New Delhi, October 24, 2026: Over 1,500 teaching and non-teaching employees of Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), along with Vice-Chancellor Prof. Mazhar Asif and Registrar Prof. Md. Mahtab Alam Rizvi, on Saturday strongly condemned the alleged defacement of campus walls with “objectionable slogans” during the ongoing students’ protest. Following escalating tensions, the university announced that all classes would be conducted online with immediate effect.

The meeting was held at the Ansari Auditorium lawns amid a 13-day-old protest by students demanding elections for the Jamia Millia Islamia Students’ Union (JMISU), which was disbanded in 2006 following campus violence.

Staff Adopt Two Resolutions

The gathering expressed concern that vandalism and slogans written on campus walls had disturbed the academic environment and affected the dignity of the 106-year-old institution.

The employees unanimously passed two resolutions:

They appealed to protesting students to vacate the protest site and call off their agitation to restore peace on campus. The staff said the Ghalib statue lawns had been occupied despite Gate No. 18 being the designated protest site.
They resolved to repaint the defaced walls and cover the slogans, which they described as harmful to the institution’s reputation and to the country’s integrity, security and sovereignty.

The staff said that the actions of a “handful of individuals” should not be allowed to damage the reputation of a historic university or affect the future of the wider student community. They also criticised alleged misinformation being circulated on social media regarding the protest.

Administration Cites Damage to Students’ Future

Vice-Chancellor Prof. Mazhar Asif and Registrar Prof. Md. Mahtab Alam Rizvi expressed serious concern that defacement of university property and objectionable slogans could harm JMI’s standing. They said such incidents could also affect the credibility of students and adversely impact their placement, employment and higher-education opportunities.

Members of the seven-member high-level committee, constituted on October 18 to mediate with protesting students, said the university had taken several steps to address the issue. They noted that a JMISU Constitution Draft Committee was notified on October 21—an initiative, according to the administration, not taken by any previous Vice-Chancellor or Registrar since 2006.

The committee also referred to another October 21 notification stating that disciplinary action taken or initiated against students protesting between October 12 and 5:30 pm on October 21 would be reviewed. Despite these measures, it said, students on hunger strike had not come forward for talks.

Concern Over Political Involvement

Teachers and staff members expressed concern that the protest was escalating after the alleged involvement of leaders and representatives of local, regional and national political parties and groups. They feared this could further vitiate the campus atmosphere and lead to chaos, vandalism and more defacement of university property.

Reports said the protest began on October 12 with an indefinite hunger strike by students demanding the restoration of JMISU, an election schedule, withdrawal of disciplinary action and removal of the Chief Proctor and Security Advisor.

Staff March to Protest Site

After adopting the resolutions, the teaching and non-teaching staff marched from the Ansari Auditorium lawns through Gate No. 13 and the main road to Gate No. 7, before proceeding towards the protest site to persuade students to end the agitation.

According to the university’s account, after nearly two hours of persuasion, students continued raising slogans and allegedly pushed security personnel, staff and teachers. Senior faculty members’ repeated appeals went unheeded, following which the staff withdrew and returned to the Ansari Auditorium.

Classes Shifted Online

Taking cognisance of the developments, the JMI administration issued a notification stating that classes across all courses would be held online with immediate effect. The decision was taken in view of the prevailing situation and to ensure the safety and security of bona fide students.

Students have been advised to follow their online class schedules and avoid visiting the campus. The university said its gates and libraries would remain closed until further notice.

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