JAMIA TEACHERS ASSOCIATION vs JAMIA MILLIA ISLAMIA

Judgment text excerpt

$~J * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI % Judgment pronounced on: 28.10.2025 + W.P.(C) 1490/2023 and CM APPL.46832/2025 JAMIA TEACHERS ASSOCIATION .....Petitioner Through: Mr. Abhik Chimni, Mr. Gurupal Singh, Ms. Pranjal Abrol, Ms. Shreya Bajpai and Mr. Rishabh Gupta, Advs. versus JAMIA MILLIA ISLAMIA .....Respondent Through: Mr. Pritish Sabharwal, Standing Counsel and Ms. Shweta Singh, Advocate. CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SACHIN DATTA JUDGMENT 1. The present petition has been filed by the petitioner/ Jamia Teachers Association (hereinafter “JTA”), assailing the Office Orders dated 17.11.2022 and 18.11.2022 and the Advisory dated 18.11.2022 issued by the respondent/ Jamia Millia Islamia (hereinafter “University”). 2. The controversy is in a narrow factual compass. The JTA, constituted in the year 1967, is an autonomous body of teachers of the respondent University, governed by a self-regulated Constitution and administered through an Executive Committee (EC) elected by its members. Considering that the EC elected in the year 2020, was to continue till 25.11.2022, the EC passed a resolution on 19.10.2022 to hold fresh elections. The duly appointed Returning Officer (RO) issued a notification announcing the election date as 23.11.2022 and the University was duly informed of the said notification. W.P.(C) 1490/2023 Page 1 of 7 Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed By:CHINU LUTHRA Signing Date:28.10.2025 18:48:16 3. On 10.11.2022, the respondent University issued a show cause notice alleging the RO's appointment as illegal and directing the RO to step down. Thereafter, the impugned orders and advisory (dated 17.11.2022 and 18.11.2022), were issued whereby, the pending elections were nullified, the JTA was dissolved, its office sealed, the office bearers of JTA were