An official panel on Wednesday recommended entry of vehicles of “desirous” teachers and staff members into the Kashmir University (KU) campus after obtaining special passes from the concerned authorities.
The recommendation was given days after the varsityadministration imposed a blanket ban on entry of vehicles into the campus tomake it “greener”.
A group of KU teachers, privy to the recommendation made bythe panel headed by Dean Academic Affairs Prof Akbar Masood, said it wasresolved during a meeting of the committee that cars of “desirous teachers”will be allowed to enter into the campus after obtaining special passes.
The panel has also asked the varsity administration to putin place adequate transportation facility at campus gates if the ban is to beimposed effectively, a source said.
The panel’s recommendation, however, hasn’t gone well with alarge section of university teachers and non-teaching staff, who have accusedthe university administration of “buckling under pressure” of a few seniorteachers who wanted the ban to be removed.
“What do they mean by desirous teachers? If the wholefaculty tomorrow says they are desirous of entering into the campus, would theyallow all vehicles inside? What is the fun of such a ban, which they are nowtrying to make selective and optional,” a group of teachers said. They allegedthe panel was constituted to lift the ban.
“Rather than resolving issues that cropped up after itsimposition, the committee was framed to find an honourable exit,” theyremarked.
Several non-teaching staff members, said they had fullysupported the vehicle ban but “the implementing agency is the administrationwhich has to take the final call”.
A senior KU teacher said a section of teachers recently rana signature campaign asking the Kashmir University Teachers Association (KUTA),which had supported the ban fully, to hold a general body meeting to discussthe issue. The campaign was signed by more than 100 teachers, most of whom wantedthe ban to go.
KUTA president ProfMuheet Ahmad Butt was part of the official panel headed by Dean AcademicAffairs. The panel also included Prof S Mufeed Ahmad, Prof M Hussain, ProfNaseer Iqbal, Prof Anisa Shafi, President KUOA, President KUMSA and tworepresentatives each of students and research scholars.
A KU official said revoking the ban or making itnon-applicable for “desirous teachers” would mean its end.
“They (administration) got all out support on the ban, butby going lenient on it, they are sending out wrong signals that they hadperhaps taken the decision in haste and failed to provide alternatemechanisms,” the official said. Registrar KU, Prof Nisar Ahmad Mir was notavailable for his comments.