Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 8: AICC National Secretary and Co-Incharge Organization, Neeraj Kundan has appealed Director General, National Testing Agency for the reallocation of CUET UG examination centers for J&K students.
In a letter to the DG NTA, Neeraj Kundan has sought rescheduling of CUET UG 2025 examinations, which are going to be held from May 13, 2025, as centers for J&K candidates, currently assigned outside the Union Territory, should be within J&K, with special provisions for border students in Poonch and Rajouri districts.
“These areas have been severely impacted by recent Pakistani shelling, killing 15 civilians, including 12 in Poonch, and injuring 43 on May 7, 2025. The attacks have disrupted lives, damaged infrastructure, and heightened security risks, making travel to distant centers untenable,” he explained.
Adding that students from Poonch and Rajouri face acute challenges, Neeraj Kundan said that ongoing shelling and terrorism create safety concerns, with 25-30 Pakistani terrorists reportedly active in the region.
“Transportation is severely impacted as Poonch and Rajouri are 150-250 km far from Jammu, lack reliable public transport, and damaged roads hinder access. Financially, families, reliant on agriculture, cannot afford travel costs of Rs 5,000-10,000 per trip amidst losses from the attacks. The trauma of losing loved ones further impairs students’ and their ability to travel and perform,” he said and recalled that in 2023, NTA had rescheduled CUET UG for J&K, setting a precedent.
Highlighting these constraints of Poonch-Rajouri students, Neeraj Kundan urged NTA to reallocate centers to Jammu or Srinagar; establish temporary centers in secure areas near Poonch and Rajouri; provide subsidized transport and waive off fees of the affected students.
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