No need for a student union, ‘transparent’ system in place, says Kashmir University in RTI reply

NEW DELHI: The University of Kashmir verbally banned student unions and believes that there is no need of a student body as a transparent system is already in place, as revealed in a response to a Right to Information (RTI) query. However, the Jammu and Kashmir government has not officially banned student politics, formation of student associations or unions in the Kashmir region, the RTI reply found.

Responding to an RTI filed by Nasir Khuehami, national convenor of the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA), the higher education department confirmed that no communication or official order has been issued by the authorities imposing such a restriction. The RTI sought a photocopy of any official order banning student activism and student associations in universities and educational institutions across the union territory.

Khuehami said that he filed an RTI to seek information whether any official order prohibits student unions in Jammu and Kashmir or campus politics at Kashmir University. He submitted similar requests to various universities in Kashmir, and found the response from Kashmir University was particularly striking. While other universities simply stated that there is no ban on student politics, Kashmir University’s reply “stood out”.

Several institutions, including the University of Jammu, Central University of Jammu, Government College for Women Gandhi Nagar Jammu, Central University of Kashmir, Islamic University of Science and Technology, and other educational institutions, have confirmed in their respective responses that no official order banning student politics has been issued either by the universities themselves or by the government. They also clarified that they have not prohibited the setting up of student associations or unions.

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Kashmir University's stand on student politics

However, the RTI reply from the Kashmir University states that there is no need for a student union in the university because a transparent system is already in place. The university specifically said that it has not issued any circular or formal order banning student unions. There is also no official communication from the Kashmir government or university restricting the formation of student associations. However, the university's proctor mentioned that student unions were verbally banned in 2009 by the then vice-chancellor Riyaz Punjabi. This decision was not implemented through any written or official order but was conveyed as a verbal directive. The reply goes on to say that the university has a proper grievance mechanism.

Condemning the response, Khuehami said that the university can gaslight with the "proper grievance cell" reply, but not anyone who is aware of its “defunct system, especially a student who is a daily sufferer.”

"Which Kashmir University student doesn't know that when a student speaks about university issues, he is summoned by the Chief Proctor the next day? They fear the University Chief Proctor more than the people of North Korea fear Kim Jong Un. Students say he is anything but an academician,” he remarked.

While the university justified the absence of student unions and associations by claiming it had a “transparent” grievance redressal system, who accredited the university as ‘transparent’?, he asked. “The question is, who gave them the accreditation of being 'transparent'? Isn't this reply laughable to those students who have to endure hardships daily due to the lack of an operational student union?”

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He argued that student unions and associations are part of a vibrant higher education system. Just because the system is transparent does not rule out the necessity of a student union.

He pointed out that every major institution in India including Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), Delhi University (DU), or TISS operates within transparent frameworks while also having active student unions. “Transparency and student representation are not mutually exclusive. If anything, they strengthen each other. Does that mean they will stop having student unions?,” the student association head further said.

“From what I gather, "law and order" has been a convenient excuse for Kashmir University authorities to avoid accountability. Student unions and associations hold university authorities accountable, and Kashmir University is not ready to be accountable to its own students. They fear being questioned for their unbridled onslaught on the quality of education at the university,” he stated.

Lastly, Nasir Khuehami said that if the University of Kashmir is serious about upholding democratic values and promoting an environment of free expression, it must immediately revoke its informal, unofficial, and arbitrary stance on student representation. “The institution must align itself with the principles of academic freedom and student participation rather than maintaining an outdated, undemocratic, and unaccountable restriction that has no legal or moral standing,” he said.