Srinagar, Sep 20: Days after 25 Kashmiri students pursuing paramedical courses at Desh Bhagat University (DBU) in Punjab were injured after they staged a protest against the authorities; the Punjab Government on Wednesday directed the varsity to pay a fine of Rs 10 lakh to each student to compensate for trauma and dislocation which they will have to face.
As per a report issued by the Department of Medical Education and Research, addressed to Chancellor DBU, Amloh Mandi Gobindgarh, they (authorities) had conducted an inspection of the nursing colleges under DBU in light of agitation launched by Kashmiri B.Sc nursing students.
It is informed that the inspection of associated institutions was done by the Medical Education Department in the presence of DBU authorities on September 15 and 16, 2023 which resulted in bringing forth very glaring deficiencies in the working of the nursing courses in your university, it said.
“Inter alia, more than double the number of students which were permitted by the Indian Nursing Council has been admitted by you in your university. The physical infrastructure is totally inadequate,” the report issued by the Under Secretary of Medical Education and Research mentions.
It further stated that the students who have been admitted over and above the prescribed number of seats were found sitting on Duna and holding the DBU management responsible for ruining their career.”
The inquiry report acknowledges that district administration and the police were doing their best to control the situation, but the anger and frustration of the nursing students (specially of the session 2020-21) towards the management of the DBU, was growing higher with every passing moment.
In light of the detailed inspection report which was submitted by the officers at the Medical Education Department Parjah, the competent authority has ordered that DBU will continue teaching the students who have been legitimately admitted as per INC norms, in various nursing courses of the university, the report said, adding, “DBU will not admit any new student for any nursing course from now onwards. It should provide the complete list of the 3-year students of the session 2020-21 to the Medical Education Department who have been affected by the illegal admissions, and need to be shifted to protect their future.”
The report further said that DBU is also directed to pay a fine of Rs 10 lakh to each of the students who have been enrolled over and above the prescribed number of seats to compensate for the trauma and dislocation which the students will have to face. “It is also made clear that DBU will have to deposit the fees for the current year i.e.. 3rdyear, to the institutions where the students will have to be shifted in, would inevitably be demanded by the respective colleges.”
Moreover, the DBU shall also provide a complete record like attendance, results of the examination undertaken, results of the practical undertaken, fees paid, security, etc which will be required by the colleges in which the government will try its best to accommodate them.
“The government will try to facilitate the transfer of these children from your institute to those colleges where seats which are approved by the DNC and are lying vacant. The government in no way is responsible to ensure that these children are accommodated, the complete fault is that of the university and shall continue to be so,” it said, adding, “The primary responsibility of rehabilitating the students and to ensure that they are suitably accommodated in other colleges and to compensate them financially lies with the Desh Bhagat University.”
It is clear that DBU has committed fraud on the students for which criminal action is being initiated against you separately, the reports said..
National Convener of the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association, Nasir Khuehami told Rising Kashmir that upon the request and demand of their association, the Punjab CM has directed the Desh Bhagat University to pay Rs 10 lakh to each enrolled student as compensation for the trauma and dislocation.
“DBU Owner, VC and the management have been informed by the Punjab Chief Minister’s office that you have committed fraud on the students for which criminal action is being initiated against them,” he said.
Last week, several students including Kashmiris, were allegedly assaulted at DBU. The students were assaulted during a protest against the university for illegally transferring their admissions into another nursing college which lacks INC recognition.
The incident at DBU sparked concerns among the public and various organizations had called for a transparent and impartial inquiry to ascertain the facts.
