Riyaz Ul Khaliq
KL NEWS NETWORK
SRINAGAR
After resuming classwork on Monday morning, students at Pir Panjal’s Baba Ghulam Shah Budshah University (BGSBU) again sat on dharna this afternoon alleging “cheating” by university administration.
The hilly located university has been facing consecutive ‘lock-outs’ as students didn’t show in the classes alleging that high placed varsity officials are involved in a scholarship scam the money of which was meant for students.
Following consecutive 14 day strike by students, Chief Minister’s Political Analyst had asked the varsity about the status of the on-going probe in to the high profile scam. Founded in 2002, the university, partially managed Auqaf of Shahadra Sharief shrine, may be the first one in the state to shut for such a record time on such an issue.
A day after CM office’s intervention, the university administration last weekend issued transfer orders of its Registrar to VC’s office as ‘Officer on Special Duty’ (OSD) and subsequently assigned charge of the Registrarship to varsity Examination Controller in addition to his work.
The students who spoke to Kashmir Life from varsity main campus said, “we were promised by SSP Haseeb Mughal Sir that Registrar won’t attend the university as the case is going on but today the Registrar was seen working normally in his office chambers.”
The students said that they want an impartial probe in to the scam and punishment to the accused. “Our careers are being played with; it seems university is more interested in saving their officials than career of its students,” a group of students said. “Registrar should not be allowed inside varsity till probe is completed.”
When contacted, SSP Rajouri, Haseeb Mughal, confirmed that the officials had promised students that Registrar and other accused officials shall not attend university. “We had meeting with the BGSBU officials wherein we had asked them to send Registrar and other officials on leave or some training till the probe in the scam is over and we promised same to the aggrieved students,” SSP Haseeb told Kashmir Life over phone from Rajouri.
SSP Haseeb said that students apprehend that the incumbent Registrar and other officials may influence the probe into the scam and that is why they are demanding his ouster from the office.
Rajouri’s top cop further said that the students had demanded change of the cop heading SIT formed by police to probe varsity scholarship scam which they did. “We changed the cop heading the SIT; it was students’ demand and we acceded to it,” he said. “Now, it is exclusively the job of university whether to run university or let protests continue.”
The SSP informed that the investigation into the alleged scam is “almost done”. “We are done with 90% of the investigations, however, we can’t divulge the details,” he replied when asked about the status of the probe.
The aggrieved students are demanding written assurances from the authorities that their demands about fair probe in to the alleged scam, fee hike and other hostels facilities will be acted upon.
The BGSBU VC could not be contacted for his comments.
