Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Oct 8: Scientists and teachers of SKUAST-K today accused the varsity authorities of taking coercive measures to quell their peaceful protest after it was termed as ‘illegitimate”.
The SKUAST-K Scientists and Teachers’ Association (SSTA) in a statement issued here said that instead of addressing their genuine demands, the university authorities were employing coercive measures to break their peaceful protest programme.
“Our protests are peaceful. We have ensured that our protest programme does not in any way affect the routine functioning of the varsity. But at the same time, we want our genuine demands to be considered and long-pending grievances addressed,” the Association said.
The association while condemning the ‘anti-scientist’ approach of the university authorities said that on Wednesday an uncalled for the order was issued by the varsity authorities just to “intimidate” the protesting scientists.
“The SSTA has been raising the demands with the administration for last one year,” the association.
It added that they were constrained to go on the peaceful protest programme only because of the failure of the authorities to address them.
They said that today when the scientists were on the third day of their symbolic protest of wearing black-bands, the Joint Registrar SKUAST-K issued an order declaring the symbolic and peaceful protest “illegitimate”.
The order speaks of the “undemocratic, unconstitutional and dictatorial policies of the university authorities who are trying to muzzle the association and resort to different tactics”.
“In SKUAST-K there are two University level Associations viz Teaching (SSTA) and Non-Teaching (NTEA) as endorsed by the University Vide order No. AU/Adm/Misc/C05/2017/14504-56, Dated28/6/08/2017. The SSTA is having membership of scientists from all the 13 KVKs, 7 subject matter faculties and all the Research Stations across Kashmir & Ladakh UTs and the attempt of underestimating the Association is uncalled for”, it said.
Meanwhile, the SSTA appealed to scientist fraternity not to panic as “we are following a disciplined, peaceful, silent and symbolic protest, which is our right guaranteed under the constitution of India”.
The association has urged the Vice-Chancellor and Registrar SKUAST-K to address their grievances.
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