The judgment of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh on the delayed establishment of a Government Degree College for the Pahalgam constituency is more than a legal verdict-it is an indictment of prolonged administrative indecision that cost an entire generation its rightful access to higher education. Conceived in 2012, debated endlessly, and entangled in contradictory Government orders, the college remains unrealized even after 13 long years. The High Court’s sharp rebuke should serve as a wake-up call: education cannot be held hostage to ambiguity, politics, or bureaucratic drift. It is true that every town and city aspires to have a degree college. However, it is equally true that such aspirations cannot be fulfilled everywhere. Establishing a degree college is not a symbolic act; it is a resource-intensive exercise that demands careful, data-driven planning. Parameters such as geographical centrality, ease of access for the largest number of students, transportation networks, proximity to feeder institutions, availability of land, and future expansion potential must guide the decision. This is precisely why expert committees are constituted-to ensure objectivity and balance competing local demands with larger public interest.
In the present case, expert bodies consistently recommended Aishmuqam as the most suitable location. The decision was backed by feasibility studies and comparative analysis. What remains inexplicable is the Government’s sudden reversal in 2018, shifting the location to Siligam without placing any cogent reason on record. Such opacity inevitably breeds suspicion, resentment, and avoidable conflict among communities. Development projects, especially in education, demand transparency, clarity, and continuous engagement with stakeholders. When people are kept in the dark, even well-intentioned initiatives turn contentious. Instead of resolving differences through dialogue and timely execution, the Government allowed the matter to spiral into prolonged litigation. The result was not just legal uncertainty but human cost-students forced to travel long distances, families bearing additional financial burdens, and many young people abandoning higher education altogether.
The judgment has now settled the issue. The way forward is unambiguous: immediate and time-bound implementation. There must be no further delays, reviews, or excuses. Students should not suffer at any cost now. Education should never become a casualty of politics or administrative inconsistency. The chapter must close here, with classrooms opening, teachers appointed, and hope restored where it was denied for far too long.
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