Srinagar, Oct 15: In a latest development, the authorities at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-Kashmir) has ordered suspension of all academic activities at its Faculty of Forestry, excluding undergraduate first-year classes.
As per the order issued by Dean Faculty of Forestry, students from J&K and Ladakh staying at the Pine Boys and Girls hostels have been asked to vacate their hostel rooms by October 16, 2026 (10 am).
As per the order, the academic activities including classwork for undergraduate, MSc and PhD courses, have been suspended until further orders.
The suspension, however, does not apply to first-year undergraduate students.
The hostel wardens have been asked to ensure that both hostels are vacated within the stipulated time.
“Any violation shall invite serious consequences under the rules,” the order reads.
Talking to Greater Kashmir, Dean Faculty of Forestry said the decision to suspend the academic activities and to vacate the hostels was taken as the students intensified their protests at the campus.
“For the past few days, the students were staging peaceful protest inside the campus and we did not counter them. But today they locked the gates and did not allow the faculty to use the rooms the students locked the administration block as well,” he told Greater Kashmir.
He said that earlier, varsity extended its support to the students but they resorted to other ways and means forcing the university administration to suspend the academic activities.
“We warned them that action will be taken against them if they resort to such action but they did not refrain. We thought to suspend the classes to avoid any action is taken on the students,” he added.
He further said the university has foreign and national students who have taken admission in the university to pursue their studies.
“They have nothing to do with the demand and protest of local students. Foreign and national students even complained that they want to attend the classes but are not allowed by the local students,” he added.
He said the varsity did counseling of the students but still did not call off their strike.
The Forestry students are protesting and demand exclusive eligibility for direct recruitment to Forester and other Forestry related exams for candidates holding dedicated professional degree in Forestry.
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