NEW DELHI: From the first student union in 1981-82 to Jamia’s fresh poll promise in 2026 — TOI presents a timeline of suspensions, court orders and unanswered questions.Jamia’s latest move has revived an old demand that never fully went away.
Timeline
1981-82 | First elected unionJamia gets its first elected students’ union.At the Centre | Congress govt led by Indira Gandhi1997 | Elections stopUnion elections are discontinued amid campus unrest.At the Centre | United Front govt1998-2004 | No revivalPolls remain suspended through the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led NDA years.2005 | Elections returnJamia holds students’ union elections again.At the Centre | Congress-led UPA govt under Manmohan Singh.March 31, 2006 | Union dissolvedOfficial reason cited | Violence and an atmosphere seen as unsuitable for elections.May 18, 2012 | Parliament records Jamia’s standIn a Rajya Sabha reply, Centre says Jamia reported that the union was disbanded after violent incidents, including an attack on the VC. It says a university committee found the campus atmosphere unsuitable for polls.April 18, 2012 | Delhi HC steps inHC asks Jamia to set up a panel to explore possibility of holding polls. Asks Jamia to examine the issue — doesn’t order immediate elections.July 2012 | Draft rules preparedJamia tells court it has readied election rules and a code of conduct. Yet, elections were never conducted.
What the court didn’t say
2017 | Agitation returnsStudents again demand elections. Jamia says the pending court case is a hurdle and instead talks of a student council-type model.Dec 20, 2022 | Case disposed ofDelhi High Court disposes of the petition after Jamia says the union stands dissolved and elections do not arise.
What the courts said
