Students Association writes to Amit Shah over FIR, suspension of Kashmiri students at Mewar University

Srinagar, March 11: The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah seeking urgent intervention over the alleged harassment, suspension and registration of an FIR against Kashmiri students studying at Mewar University in Rajasthan amid a dispute over the recognition status of a nursing course.

In a letter addressed to the Union Home Minister, the association said more than 40 Kashmiri students enrolled in the fifth semester of the B.Sc. Nursing programme at Mewar University in Chittorgarh recently learned that the course allegedly lacks mandatory approvals from the Indian Nursing Council (INC) and the Rajasthan Nursing Council (RNC).

The association said the issue has created serious uncertainty about the validity of the students’ degrees, their ability to obtain professional registration and their future employment prospects.

The JKSA said the matter has become critical as the students are scheduled to complete their degree programme within the next four months. If the course lacks statutory approvals, the degrees obtained by the students may not be recognised for professional practice, potentially affecting their academic and professional future.

According to the association, the students had taken admission in the programme in good faith, relying on representations made by the university regarding the recognition and validity of the course. Over the years, they have invested significant time, financial resources and academic effort in completing the programme.

The students had reportedly approached the university administration seeking clarification and official documentation confirming that the B.Sc. Nursing course had received approvals from the regulatory bodies governing nursing education in India. However, the association alleged that the university failed to provide clear and satisfactory responses.

Following the lack of clarity, students staged a peaceful protest inside the campus seeking transparency regarding the recognition status of the course.

However, the association alleged that instead of engaging with the students, the university administration adopted punitive measures and an FIR was registered against 17 Kashmiri students who participated in the protest. The students were subsequently detained, the association said, causing concern among families and members of the Kashmiri student community studying outside Jammu and Kashmir.

The JKSA further claimed that 33 Kashmiri students had been suspended by the university earlier after raising similar concerns regarding the alleged lack of approvals for the nursing programme.

Nasir Khuehami, National Convenor of the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association, said the students are facing a “dual crisis” involving both academic uncertainty and legal action.

“The students are deeply distressed as their academic future hangs in uncertainty. They had enrolled in the programme in good faith and should not suffer because of alleged institutional lapses or regulatory issues,” Khuehami said.

The association also raised concerns about the campus environment, claiming that the situation has become tense and that several students have expressed fears about their safety. It further alleged that some female Kashmiri students were assaulted following the protest and that some students complained of harassment by certain faculty members.

The association urged the Union Home Minister to intervene and ensure the safety of Kashmiri students studying at the university and to take up the issue with the Rajasthan government.

Among the demands raised in the letter are the withdrawal or review of the FIR against the 17 students, an independent inquiry into the alleged harassment and assault incidents, and verification of the approval status of the B.Sc. Nursing programme from the Indian Nursing Council and the Rajasthan Nursing Council.

The association also appealed to the central government to facilitate the migration or transfer of the affected students to another recognised institution if the programme is found to lack the required approvals.

The JKSA said students from Jammu and Kashmir pursuing education in different parts of the country represent the aspirations of young people seeking quality education and better opportunities. It added that ensuring a safe and supportive academic environment is essential for strengthening trust between students from the region and institutions across the country.

The association urged the Ministry of Home Affairs to direct the Rajasthan government to intervene in the matter and restore confidence among the affected students and their families.

The letter emphasized that timely government intervention could help protect the academic future, safety and dignity of the students while addressing concerns related to institutional accountability and regulatory compliance in higher education. [KNT]