Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, Feb 26: As the State Government today ordered allowing the continuation of University Institute of Engineering and Technology (UIET) as a constituent college of Jammu University but without RUSA funding as well as Janglote Campus, all eyes are set on high-level scheduled meeting under the chairmanship of Governor N N Vohra on March 6 amidst apprehensions over long run survival of this UIET.
The Government also asked for immediate resumption of class work for the UIET students at the Jammu University campus for the current session adding that later a building shall be hired for the purpose by the university, till permanent campus is established thus establishing the fact that the State Government would not restore newly established Janglote Engineering Campus to JU.
The official communiqué in this regard, vide No. HE/ Coll/ Eng/-119/ 2016, addressed to Jammu University Vice-Chancellor, was issued today after a high-level meeting was taken by the Minister for Education, Altaf Ahmad Bukhari to review the issue concerning UIET in the wake of fortnight long agitation by the students.
Minister of State for Education, Priya Sethi, Vice Chancellor of Jammu University, Prof R D Sharma, Principal Secretary Higher Education, Dr Asgar Samoon, Registrar JU Meenakshi Kilam and some students along with their parents attended the meeting, which was held at the Civil Secretariat, this afternoon
“The UIET will continue to function at University Campus Jammu as a constituent college of the University of Jammu and the class work should be resumed immediately purely in the interest of academic career of the students for the current session” says the Government order, issued by the Department of Higher Education.
The official communiqué further says that the Education Minister has agreed to provide full financial support for infrastructure and staff (Technical/administrative). The University shall submit detailed proposal for the same to be taken up with the Planning Department.
Even as the agitating students and ABVP called off their protest following today’s decision by the Higher Education Department, the long run survival of UIET is uncertain in view of doubts over the State Government’s intentions, which has taken over control of the RUSA funded Engineering College besides its Janglote Campus, established at Jammu University land.
On the condition of anonymity, some senior officers and faculty members in Jammu University expressed their apprehensions over the intentions of the State Government and said that the today’s decision was merely an eye wash to buy time for temporarily avoiding trouble, particularly during JU Convocation on March 4 wherein Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitely will be the chief guest.
“Things would be clear only after March 6 meeting wherein the decision for establishment of permanent campus of UIET shall be taken, as per the Government communiqué,’ said a senior Professor.
Pertinent to mention that Governor N N Vohra has already called a high-level meeting on March 6 at 10.30 a.m at Raj Bhawan Jammu to discuss the UIET Janglote and Safapora besides other issues.
Education Minister Altaf Bukhari, Vice-Chancellors of Jammu University, Kashmir University; Principal Secretary Higher Education and Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister have been asked to attend the meeting, which shall be chaired by the Governor, sources said.
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