The JNUSU hunger strike at Jawaharlal Nehru University entered its sixth day on Friday, October 9, as talks between student representatives and the administration failed to resolve disputes over disciplinary rules, campus infrastructure, admissions, sexual-harassment complaints and student financial support.
The indefinite protest is being held at Sabarmati T Point and involves the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union along with student organisations including AISA, SFI, DSF, AISF, DISHA and PSA. The agitation began over provisions in the Chief Proctor Manual that students say impose heavy penalties on campus gatherings. It also concerns the rustication of four JNUSU office-bearers for two semesters in February.
Students are seeking the withdrawal of the disputed disciplinary provisions and the revocation of the rustication orders. Their demands also include ending private third-party video teaching contracts in the School of Languages, restoring the independent GSCASH mechanism for handling sexual-harassment complaints, and replacing NTA-CUET entrance tests with a decentralised, university-led admission system.
Hostel and campus facilities have emerged as a significant part of the dispute. Protesters have raised concerns about deteriorating conditions in the Kaveri, Periyar and Godavari hostels, and have sought improvements to Barak hostel. Their infrastructure-related demands include gender-neutral toilets, wheelchair accessibility and additional library space. The demands place accommodation, access and academic facilities alongside the wider administrative grievances.
Students have also called for greater transparency in mess billing, an increase in MCM scholarships for economically weaker students and decentralised processing of Junior Research Fellowship applications. These demands relate to the daily costs of living and studying on campus, as well as the administration of financial assistance.
Tensions increased on Friday after JNUSU President Aditi, Vice President Gopika and General Secretary Sunil were summoned for a meeting with Vice-Chancellor at the administration block. According to the report, the students said that the doors were shut after they arrived and that officials discarded medical checkups for the fasting leaders. The allegation was made by the protesting students; the supplied report does not include an independent response from the administration on the claims.
The union has announced a mobilisation under the banner “Fight Back JNU”. A march from Sabarmati T Point to the East Gate was held at 9 pm on Friday as the standoff continued without an announced settlement. The administration’s next response and the status of the students’ demands remain pending.
