Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 21: Minister for Higher Education, Mohd Akbar Lone today said that he would raise the issue of indulgence of University faculty members in the political activities in the Council meeting.
This was stated by the Minister on the floor of the Legislative Assembly after National Panthers Party MLA from Udhampur, Balwant Singh Mankotia raised this issue during the Question Hour.
“Some faculty members of Jammu University are indulging in political activities at the cost of studies of the students and this practice needs to be checked for betterment of the students”, he said, adding “if this is the drawback of the autonomous status of the University then the same must be taken back and varsity must be brought under the control of Higher Education Department”.
He also expressed concern over inordinate delay in the start of work on Udhampur Campus of Jammu University. “The campus was sanctioned in 2005 but till date work could not be started despite release of funds”, he regretted.
Congress MLA from Bhaderwah, Mohd Sharief Niaz demanded that Bhaderwah Campus should be given full-fledged varsity status as following the completion of work on Bhaderwah-Chamba road, large number of students from Chamba area of Himachal Pradesh would prefer to get education in Bhaderwah University campus.
Replying to the queries of Mr Mankotia, Minister for Higher Education, Mohd Akbar Lone said, “we cannot interference in the affairs of the University due to its autonomous status”. He, however, assured to raise the issue of indulgence of faculty members in political activities in the University Council meeting as the same is not good for the students”.
Earlier, in reply to the main question of PDP MLA, Abdul Haq Khan, Mr Lone assured the House that academic programmes in Kupwara campus of University would be launched from July-August 2014.
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