Your kid's conduct is your responsibility: Jamia launches parental patrol amid rising student activism

In a move aimed at tightening discipline on campus, Jamia Millia Islamia has introduced a unique requirement in its admission process — a declaration from parents or local guardians, holding them accountable for the "conduct and character" of newly admitted students, reported TOI. This provision, absent in other central universities in Delhi, reflects a growing administrative push at Jamia to reinforce order and preempt unrest.

The clause forms part of a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for admissions that was recommended by a university-appointed committee and approved by the vice-chancellor in April last year. Alongside the usual student declaration, the SOP now includes a statement that reads: “I hereby declare that I take full responsibility of his/her conduct and character as a student of Jamia Millia Islamia. I shall make myself available to the university whenever required.”

While anti-ragging declarations from parents are a standard requirement in Indian universities, Jamia’s broader stipulation that guardians vouch for their ward’s overall behavior is seen as an unusual step, said the report.


Climate of caution

The decision comes in the wake of growing tensions on campus. In February, students staged a sit-in protest near the central canteen, demanding a rollback of disciplinary actions taken against their peers.

The university responded by filing a police complaint. Protesters later alleged that police officials contacted their families, urging them to intervene. Students also accused the university of publicly displaying their personal details while placing them under suspension — a claim Jamia has denied.

“Instead of addressing our concerns directly, they reached out to our families and portrayed us as troublemakers,” a second-year student who was part of the protest told TOI. “This new clause feels like another tool to deter student dissent.”

Since the anti-CAA protests in 2019, Jamia has maintained a campus ban on demonstrations. In recent months, it has issued more frequent warnings against “unauthorised gatherings.”

Not the norm

A university faculty member, speaking on condition of anonymity, described the undertaking as a preventive measure designed to ensure accountability and deter disruptive behavior from the outset of a student’s tenure at the university.

By contrast, institutions such as Delhi University and Jawaharlal Nehru University do not require such parental declarations beyond the mandatory anti-ragging affidavit. Officials from both universities confirmed to TOI that they have no policy requiring parents or guardians to take responsibility for students’ overall conduct.

Jamia’s media coordinator did not respond to requests for comment.