Jamia Scholar Suspended Over 'Off-Site' Protest Amidst Campus Tensions
Jamia Scholar Suspended Over 'Off-Site' Protest Amidst Campus Tensions
A Jamia Millia Islamia PhD scholar faces suspension for protesting outside the designated area. Students claim "arbitrary" action amidst wider concerns over campus dissent and hostel evictions. #JamiaProtest
A PhD scholar at Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) has been suspended for five days and directed to explain why a “higher punishment” should not be imposed, following his participation in a protest outside the university's designated protest site on Monday. The scholar, Neville Thomas, who is associated with the All India Students' Association (AISA), was protesting alongside other students against recent eviction notices issued to women students staying in university hostels.
The university issued a show-cause notice to Thomas, citing repeated directives for students to refrain from holding “unauthorised gatherings” at locations other than the designated spot. The notice further demanded a written explanation from Thomas regarding his conduct. JMI had, in October 2025, designated a specific area in front of Gate 18 as the official protest site, prohibiting demonstrations elsewhere on campus.
Thomas described his suspension as “arbitrary,” asserting that protest is a fundamental “democratic right of students.” He noted the swift action by the administration, receiving the show-cause and suspension notices merely hours after the protest commenced. This incident follows a similar event in August, where four students were temporarily suspended for protesting outside the designated area over alleged admission irregularities.
The current tensions are exacerbated by what students perceive as “curbs on dissent” by the administration. Students argue that the October 2025 notification designating the protest spot, which they describe as being in a remote corner of the campus, aims to diminish their “democratic right to dissent.” However, a university spokesperson clarified the institution's stance, stating,
We are not asking students not to protest; we are merely asking them to protest at the designated space, and they should understand that protesting in the middle of the university impacts academics.
The underlying issue of hostel evictions also contributes to the unrest.
On September 18, three female students received notices declaring them ineligible for hostel renewal due to their academic performance.
One student, Habeeba, claims her hostel renewal was processed in July, suggesting she is being targeted for her involvement in protests concerning poor mess food quality.
Despite her allegations, the university spokesperson maintained that the eviction notices strictly adhere to hostel guidelines and are unrelated to any protests.
