Students Islamic Organization Protests to Demand Students Union at Jamia

The Students Islamic Organization (SIO) organised a protest in front of the vice-chancellor’s office gate at Jamia Millia Islamia Wednesday, March 18, 2015, demanding the restoration of students union at Jamia Millia Islamia.

In a written statement, SIO National Secretary Thouseef Madikeri said: “SIO demands in the interest of the University in general and student community in particular that the student union election of Jamia Millia Islamia must be resumed latest by upcoming academic year i.e. 2015-16.”

Read the complete statement below:

SIO press release dated March 18, 2015

Restore Student Union Elections:

SIO is concerned about democratic environment in the campuses since its inception. SIO believes in fostering the democratic environment in campuses in order to bring the best out of the student community to serve society and nation.

SIO believes that every society and nation has meaningfully prospered when it allowed each of its members to participate democratically in each tumultuous and peaceful moment of its life. The democratic participation always had been signs of healthy and prosperous society.

As each of us aware of the fact that the Jamia Millia Islamia has not conducted the student union election since 2006. It is a matter of grave concern for all of us. The ban on student union election is neither serving nor advancing any democratic cause of either University or student community. The continued ban on student union election by Jamia Millia Islamia authorities is essentially continued and direct violation of fundamental rights viz. Right to freedom of speech and expression and right to form associations or unions of student community.

As each of us aware of the fact that in pursuant to the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India order dated 2^nd December 2005 the then Ministry of HRD had constituted a committee under the Chairmanship of Shri J.M. Lyngdoh  to look into various aspects of the student union election. The said committee had given its recommendations and the same has been approved by the Hon’ble Supreme Court vide its order dated 22nd September, 2006 and directed that those recommendations should thereafter be followed scrupulously by all Universities across the Country.

It is a matter of concern as Jamia Millia Islamia is not conducting election, despite strictures given by the Hon’ble Supreme Court. The Jamia  Millia Islamia has not witnessed the election for last 8 years. According to the Supreme Court order couple with Lyngdoh committee recommendations Jamia Millia Islamia must have witnessed election atleast latest by 2011-12 academic year.

Therefore SIO demands in the interest of the University in general and student community in particular that the student union election of Jamia Millia Islamia must be resumed latest by upcoming academic year i.e. 2015-16. And we also demand from the HRD Ministry of India that it must direct the Jamia Millia Islamia authorities to comply with the Hon’ble Supreme Court order at the earliest possible time so that the next academic year witness the student election at Jamia Millia Islamia.

Thouseef Madikeri,

National Secretary,
SIO of India.