On December 18, 2025, the administration of Jamia Millia Islamia served show-cause notices to several students for their participation in a peaceful protest.

Students had demonstrated on December 15, 2025, to commemorate the fifth anniversary of a police crackdown against those opposing the 2019 Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). The protest was intended to peacefully remember the events of 2019 and express continued opposition to the CAA, which students described as discriminatory and unconstitutional. Despite the demonstration being conducted without violence, damage to university property, or disruption to academic activity, students were served with show-cause notices three days later. The university administration alleged that students violated regulations by participating in an “unauthorized gathering.”

Scholars at Risk is concerned by a university taking disciplinary action against students for exercising their right to freedom of opinion and expression – conduct that is protected by international human rights instruments, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which India is a party. Higher education administrators should respect academic freedom, and should employ transparent, fair processes when engaging in disciplinary actions. In addition to the harm to the immediate victim, such actions undermine academic freedom.

Sources:
https://kmsnews.org/kms/2025/12/19/jamia-millia-islamia-students-issued-show-cause-notices-for-dec-15-protest.html
https://m.thewire.in/article/government/jamia-students-issued-show-cause-notices-for-december-15-protest-reports