The Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) has called off its 17-day indefinite hunger strike after the JNU administration agreed to revoke the rustication of five students with immediate effect, according to PTI and Hindustan Times reports carried by Careers360 and Sabrang India.

Vice-Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit directed the immediate revocation of the rustication orders against JNUSU president Aditi Mishra, vice-president K Gopika Babu, Sunil Yadav, Danish Ali and former JNUSU president Nitish Kumar. The students will pay the prescribed fines before their reinstatement, reports said.

The agreement, reached at a meeting on October 19 chaired by the Dean of the School of Social Sciences, also covers the withdrawal of FIRs and proctorial enquiries against protesting students and a review of the contentious Chief Proctor's Office (CPO) manual by a committee that will include JNUSU representation.

Why the students were on hunger strike

The five students were rusticated for two semesters in February 2026 over a protest against the installation of a facial-recognition and biometric system at the Dr B.R. Ambedkar Central Library, with students raising privacy and surveillance concerns. The indefinite hunger strike began on October 3 with a 13-point charter of demands that also included restoring the Gender Sensitisation Committee Against Sexual Harassment (GSCASH) and bringing back the JNU Entrance Examination (JNUEE).

The administration has also agreed to constitute a committee with JNUSU representation to examine the JNUEE, audit the Equal Opportunity Cell and look at hostel infrastructure and scholarship issues. Students who had been on hunger strike were hospitalised and given medical care on October 20 as the agitation was called off.

A follow-up meeting is expected after 14 working days to review implementation of the agreed measures, which both sides described as the next test of the settlement.