Jammu, July 4: Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) has castigated the State Government for alleged gross irregularities and violation of prescribed procedures in the recent opening of degree colleges in the State.
Addressing a press conference here, the JKNPP working chairman and MLA, Harsh Dev Singh said the establishment of “model degree colleges” had been approved by the Centre in the specified educationally backward districts of the Country including Jammu and Kashmir during 2008-09.
Singh said for the purpose, the University Grants Commission had released funds for creating infrastructure in these colleges. He said that the UGC had specifically indicated and categorized 11 districts of the State as educationally backward districts in 2008-09 which included Anantnag (Islamabad), Kupwara, Doda, Budgam, Leh, Kargil, Poonch, Udhampur, Rajouri, Baramulla and Kathua.
“Ironically, the Government in its recent order for establishment of 22 new degree colleges including 11 model degree colleges acted in the most whimsical, illegal and arbitrary manner and the changed the location of several model colleges approved by the UGC,” he alleged.
He pointed out that the UGC had categorically approved a model degree college for Udhampur district and sanctioned Rs 8 crore for the purpose. “This college was arbitrarily shelved by the State Government and it was shifted to Reasi district in violation of all norms, procedures and guidelines. The most ugly, alarming and distressing aspect of the matter was the College meant for district Udhampur was opened by the Minister for Higher Education Abdul Gani Malik in his own native village Sarah Bagha in Mahore tehsil,” he alleged.
“This opposes the principals of equity and justice. We will take up the matter with the UGC and the Union Government for appropriate action against defaulting bureaucrats and Ministers,” he said.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 4 Jul 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
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