Govt Rules Out Merging Colleges With Cluster Universities | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Monday informed the Assembly that it has no proposal to transfer the administrative control of prominent colleges such as SP College and Amar Singh College to the Cluster Universities of Srinagar and Jammu.

In a written response to a question raised by legislator Tanvir Sadiq during the ongoing budget session, the Higher Education Department stated that although these colleges were included under Cluster Universities established under the Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA), their administrative authority continues to remain with the department.

The reply clarified that the administrative control of both teaching and non-teaching staff of the constituent colleges is retained by the Higher Education Department.

It further noted that the Cluster Universities have been provided land to develop their own campuses and have also established independent postgraduate schools.

Responding to queries on whether any steps were being taken to affiliate, merge, or transfer control of these colleges to the Cluster Universities, the government said that no such proposal is currently under consideration.

The question had raised concerns that any such move could affect the historic identity, academic autonomy, and legacy of institutions such as SP College, Women’s College (MA Road), Amar Singh College, MAM College, GGM Science College, and SPMR College of Commerce.