JKSA meets DRME, PNRC over BFUHS academic row; seeks Punjab Government's immediate intervention

SRINAGAR: A delegation of the Jammu & Kashmir Students Association (JKSA), led by its State Media Coordinator Sheikh Salman, along with members of the Punjab Students Union (PSU), on Saturday visited the offices of the Directorate of Research and Medical Education (DRME), Punjab, and the Punjab Nurses Registration Council (PNRC), SAS Nagar, Mohali, to pursue the long-pending issue concerning the arbitrary academic decisions of Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS), which have placed the academic future of thousands of nursing students in jeopardy. 

The delegation met the concerned Director at DRME, who gave a patient hearing and assured that he would personally take up the matter with Baba Farid University of Health Sciences. He further assured that the University would be directed to furnish a written clarification on the issues raised so that the grievances of the affected students could be examined in a transparent and time-bound manner. 

The delegation also met the Registrar of the Punjab Nurses Registration Council (PNRC). However, the Registrar expressed his inability to intervene, stating that the matter does not fall within the Council's jurisdiction and that he has no authority to mediate in the dispute.The Association stated that it has exhausted every available institutional, legal, and administrative grievance redressal mechanism. 

Despite repeated representations before the University, meetings with the concerned authorities, and continuous follow-ups, no meaningful resolution has been achieved.JKSA further stated that information obtained under the Right to Information (RTI) Act establishes that the academic relaxations approved by the University's highest academic body have not been implemented by the university administration. 

The Association has also filed another RTI application before the Indian Nursing Council (INC) seeking clarification on the applicability of the relevant nursing regulations.Speaking on the occasion, Sheikh Salman said that despite exhausting all available legal and administrative remedies, the University's rigid and arbitrary approach has left thousands of nursing students uncertain about their academic future. 

He said the Association cannot allow university authorities to amend academic regulations or alter rules at their own convenience in a manner that prejudices students' interests. Such arbitrary decisions violate the principles of fairness and transparency, disrupt the academic calendar, and cause severe academic uncertainty and hardship. 

He further said that the prolonged delay has imposed a significant financial and psychological burden on students, particularly those from Jammu & Kashmir and other states, who continue to incur additional expenses on accommodation, transportation, tuition, and daily living while awaiting a resolution. 

The continued uncertainty has also adversely affected their mental well-being, academic progression, and future career prospects.The Association emphasized that no university can disregard decisions taken by its own highest academic body or ignore the applicable statutory and regulatory framework. 

It said the issue extends beyond nursing students and raises broader concerns regarding transparency, accountability, and academic governance within higher education institutions.JKSA reiterated that it will continue pursuing the matter and will once again seek the intervention of the Chief Minister of Punjab and the Speaker of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha to facilitate appropriate policy-level directions. 

The Association affirmed that it remains committed to ensuring a fair, transparent, lawful, and student-centric resolution and will not allow arbitrary administrative actions to compromise the academic rights and future of thousands of students. 

The Association appealed to the Punjab Government to intervene without further delay, ensure justice for the affected students, and direct Baba Farid University of Health Sciences to implement the decisions already approved by its Academic Council in accordance with the applicable academic regulations and statutory framework.