The Jamia Review

The ID Card Menace at Jamia

Maryam Ahmed

Maryam Ahmed

Published

Share

New Delhi; They fake it until they make it. In the past three months, from August 2019, the Jamia Millia Islamia administration has seized around 726 invalid student identity cards, which were used or rather misused by outsiders to enter the university campus. Waseem Ahmad Shakeel, Chief Proctor, Jamia Millia Islamia said that, checking for invalid ID cards has always been a practice in the university, however with the appointment of the new Vice-Chancellor, the administration had to implement strict measures to curb the intrusion and review the surveillance in and around the university as well. Outsiders from nearby areas enter the campus using either fake or expired identity cards to commit theft, harass students, engage in substance abuse or to simply create nuisance in the university premises.

“Students from other universities also tried to enter in order to create unrest and create political space”



as reported by the Jamia Millia Islamia Administration.

Ex-students in order to access the university library and other resources used old or expired identity cards, and can been seen hanging out in the parks and canteens.

Security at Gate No. 7, Bab-e-Maulana Abul Kalam Azad
Image Credits: Faizan Salik

“The intruders have a different behaviour. They try to hide the photograph on the ID card, or just show the backside of the card, or cover the hologram when asked for the identity card”



said security guard A. Khan

The university administration also claims of being responsible for the security of the students, especially the hostel residents who are located in close proximity of the campus. Hence, an increase in the security checking has been observed. The security guards follow simple cues to identify outsiders.

The ID card is the only proof for students to enter the university and the checking at every gate is just terrifying



as quoted by Hiba Khan, a student of the Department of English, Jamia Millia Islamia

While the administration talks of an increased presence of outsiders and invalid ID cards, newly admitted students of the university, complained about the delay in getting their ID cards. First year students have to wait for months in order to get their cards. Meanwhile, they make use of fee slips or photocopies of fee slip to enter the university premises and in this process, some students even lose their original fee slip. The student identity card is also used as a library card. Due to the delay, first year students have not been able to issue or borrow books from the library either.

The process for getting duplicate ID cards still remains hectic and exhorting and in such cases ID card becomes a prized possession for every student of the university.

Maryam Ahmed
Department of English, Jamia Millia Islamia

Maryam Ahmed

Maryam Ahmed

undefined...

Read More

Related Articles

INDIA: The Pseudo Growing Economy

INDIA: The Pseudo Growing Economy

India is now the world’s third-largest economy, but this growth hides deep inequalities, with most benefits going to the rich while the majority strug...

Economy

7 min read

Unfolding of the Cataclysmic Airplane Crash:  A Nation in Shock as Dreamliner Turns into a Descending Horror

Unfolding of the Cataclysmic Airplane Crash: A Nation in Shock as Dreamliner Turns into a Descending Horror

On June 12, 2025, Air India Flight 171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner en route from Ahmedabad to London, crashed moments after its take-off, collapsing on...

News Report

12 min read

Voices of the Oppressed in the New Age of Media

Voices of the Oppressed in the New Age of Media

Throughout history, media has largely been a tool for the oppressors to control the mainstream narratives, leaving few opportunities for the oppressed...

Opinion

8 min read

Reignition of Burning Fires Along the Border: Exploring Terror, Escalation, and the Termination of Diplomatic Treaties Amidst the Ongoing Indo-Pak Conflict

Reignition of Burning Fires Along the Border: Exploring Terror, Escalation, and the Termination of Diplomatic Treaties Amidst the Ongoing Indo-Pak Conflict

War is not merely a failure of diplomacy, but a culmination of unresolved ideologies, historical trauma, fear, and a cycle of violence. Since independ...

Never miss a story

Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential Jamia stories, delivered to your inbox daily.