Excelsior Correspondent
RAJOURI, June 16: Scores of students from Government Degree College (GDC) Kotranka staged a sit-in protest on Monday against the criteria set by Jammu University for admission into the fifth semester.
The protest, which involved the blockade of the Rajouri-Budhal road at Kotranka Chowk, lasted for about two hours and drew significant attention.
Raising slogans against the Jammu University administration, the protesting students expressed strong resentment over the existing admission policy.
Mohammad Sharif, one of the student leaders, explained that under the current regulations, students must pass the first and second semesters in full, secure at least 50% credits in the third semester, and perfectly clear all internal assignments of the fourth semester to be eligible for admission into the fifth semester.
“The criteria is excessively rigid and have placed undue pressure on students. Many who are otherwise capable, are being denied the chance to continue their education,” Sharif said, demanding immediate revision of the admission rules. “We are not against academic standards, but the policy should be fair and inclusive,” he added.
As the road blockade disrupted traffic and local life, authorities intervened to defuse the situation. SHO (Prob), DySP Shrafat Nawaz from Police Station, Kotranka reached the spot and assured students that their concerns would be communicated to higher authorities. However, the students refused to disperse.
It was only after the intervention of Tehsildar Kotranka, Sahil Ali Shah, the agitating students agreed and lifted protest-dharna.
Before dispersing, the students warned that if the criteria is not revised soon, they would organize a foot-march to Jammu and stage a major protest outside the Jammu University campus.
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