Jamia Millia Islamia Under Fire for Publishing Names, Photos, and Contact Details of Student Activists and Protesters on Campus Gates

In an unprecedented move, Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) administration has publicly revealed personal details of students involved in a protest, sparking widespread condemnation over privacy violations and security risks. The university pasted notices on its campus gates listing students' names, photographs, mobile numbers, email addresses, home addresses, student ID numbers, academic departments, and affiliations with student organizations.

The incident has raised serious concerns about the safety of these students, as the national capital has witnessed previous attacks on JMI students by right-wing groups. Protesters have accused the university of trying to intimidate and endanger them.

University Puts Up Notices Naming Student Protesters

• A notice titled “List of active students who organised a protest without any permission on 10/02/2025 at 5:00 PM at the central canteen hall” was posted on the gates of Jamia Millia Islamia in New Delhi.
• The document contained details of at least 17 students, including six women.
• Information displayed included:
  • Photographs
  • Full Names
  • Student ID Numbers
  • Mobile Numbers
  • Email Addresses
  • Home Addresses
  • Academic Departments
  • Affiliated Organizations

Students Decry Invasion of Privacy

• A student whose name appeared on the list expressed shock, calling it an attempt to “terrorize students.”
• Another affected student questioned, “How can my details, including my email ID and phone number, be published in the public domain?”
• A student cited safety concerns, emphasizing, “Guns have even been fired at students before. This is a serious and gross violation of privacy. The authorities will be responsible if anything happens to us.”

Student Groups Involved in the Protests

The students named in the notice are affiliated with various student organizations, including:

• All India Students Association (AISA)
• Democratic Students Solidarity Committee (DISSC)
• Students’ Federation of India (SFI)
• Fraternity Movement
• National Students’ Union of India (NSUI)
• All India Revolutionary Students Organization (AIRSO)
• Master of Social Work (MSW) students

University Accuses Students of Misconduct and Vandalism

• Prior to the public display of student details, Jamia Millia Islamia had sent suspension emails to those involved in the protests.
• The administration accused them of:
  • Leading an “unruly & rowdy group of individuals”
  • “Vandalizing & defacing university property”
  • Using “abusive & defamatory slogans”
  • “Disobeying” teachers
  • “Defaming the university”
• In an official statement, JMI said, “A handful of students called for a protest, unlawfully gathering in the academic block since the evening of 10 Feb 2025.”
• The administration further alleged, “These students, in the last two days, vandalized university property, including the central canteen, and also broke the gate of the security advisor, forcing the JMI administration to take action. They have violated other university rules and were found carrying objectionable contraband items.”

Delhi Police Detains Protesters Without Informing Families

• On February 13, 2025, Delhi Police detained several JMI students protesting against the administration’s show-cause notices.
• Their primary demands included:
  • Revocation of a controversial memorandum restricting protests and gatherings without prior administrative approval.
  • Withdrawal of show-cause notices issued to student activists.
• Protesters claim they were detained for nearly 12 hours without their friends or families being informed.

Context: Show-Cause Notices for Previous Protests

• The latest crackdown follows a series of disciplinary actions by JMI.
• Last year, the university issued show-cause notices to two PhD scholars for organizing a demonstration on “Jamia Resistance Day” (December 15).
• The event marked the fifth anniversary of the police crackdown on JMI students during the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) movement.

Police Violence and Allegations of Misconduct

• Students reported that they were forcibly removed from campus and detained at around 5 a.m. on Thursday, February 13.
• Female students told Maktoob Media that they faced severe police brutality.
• One of them recounted, “Male police officers pulled our hair, dragged us, beat us severely, snatched our phones, and subjected us to mental torture.”

Concerns Over Student Safety and University’s Crackdown

• The decision to publicly display personal student information has led to an outcry from students, activists, and privacy advocates.
• Protesters argue that the university is deliberately endangering students by exposing their personal information, especially in a climate where students have previously faced attacks.
• The controversy has ignited debates over student rights, administrative overreach, and campus freedoms at Jamia Millia Islamia.

Source: Maktoob Media