Amid PG admissions, 500 UG students at Cluster University Srinagar fear losing academic year

Srinagar, Aug 11: Around 500 undergraduate students at Cluster University (CU) Srinagar have been left in state of despair as they are apprehensive of losing one academic year due to delayed final semester exams and result declarations by the university authorities.

The apprehension has been raised as the students are unable to submit the forms for the Post Graduation Courses as the University of Kashmir is proceeding with the PG admissions.

The students said that they are being deprived of their right to seek admission into various postgraduate (PG) courses at the University of Kashmir for the 2024 academic session.

The students said that the Cluster University Srinagar could not conduct BA, BSc, and BCom final semester exams within the expected timeline following which there are apprehensions of the subsequent delay in releasing the results.

"This delay has created a significant roadblock for students aspiring to enroll in PG courses at the University of Kashmir, which has already completed its admission process for the 2024 session," a group of students said.

According to the students, the University of Kashmir, after notifying the dates for the PG entrance test, accepted their application forms on a provisional basis and charged each candidate a fee of Rs 700. "However our final semester exams at Cluster University Srinagar are still underway, and the results are not expected for another 15-20 days. We have been left in a state of distress," the students said.

The students said August 10, 2024 was set as the last date for online submission of forms for PG admissions at the University of Kashmir.

"Unfortunately, due to the lack of final semester exam results, the students were unable to provide the required admission details. Because of this we were not able to complete the application process," the students said.

"The system could not accept our forms without the graduation exam details. Our results are still pending. We have paid the fee, but without these details, our forms could not be submitted," said one of the aggrieved students.

Amid this, the students are now apprehensive of losing one academic year if the University of Kashmir does not extend the last date for form submission by 15-20 days and if Cluster University Srinagar fails to expedite the exam process and declare the results within this extended period.

“We urge the authorities at Kashmir University to extend the date by 15 to 20 days by the time our exams will be over and results will be declared as well," the students said.

Controller examination CU Srinagar, Prof. Mir Khurshid when contacted said that the conduct of exams was delayed due to the division among the students.

"The students got divided in two groups and one group demanded that exams should be delayed while another group demanded early exams," he said.

He said the issue was also put before the 5th academic council after which the exam was rescheduled and is going on in the University.

"The exam will be over by August 20 and the results will be declared within a week or 10 days after the culmination of the exams," he said.

He said the University has also taken up the matter with Kashmir University administration and are hopeful that they will extend the dates in the larger interest of the students.

Director Admissions at Kashmir University Prof. Farooq Ahmad Mir when contacted said that they had already communicated to the CU Srinagar to complete the examination in a time bound manner keeping in view the academic calendar of the Kashmir University.

"Given the present situation, the students will lose one academic year. But considering the career opportunities of the students, we will help them. We will do whatever will be possible for us," Prof. Farooq Mir told Greater Kashmir.