Jammu, March 04 (KMS): Teaching faculty members of the Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University (BGSBU) in Rajouri district of occupied Jammu and Kashmir have started an indefinite hunger strike, declaring it as ‘fast unto death’, in protest against ‘arbitrary and unjust’ suspension of an Assistant Professor of the varsity.
The university administration issued an order in which Dr Parvez Abdullah, a faculty member of Management Studies in university, was placed under suspension while an inquiry was also ordered against him. Dr Parvez is also the President of university’s teaching association.
In a strongly worded statement, the faculty members of the university, under the banner of the BGSBU Teachers Association (BGSBUTA) condemned the action, calling it an assault on academic freedom and faculty rights. “Dr Parvez Abdullah, a respected academician and a vocal advocate for faculty rights, was suspended under circumstances that the faculty strongly condemn as arbitrary and unjust”, the statement said.
The teachers added that the suspension was aimed at suppressing a potential move by the Association to seek inquiries into recent faculty promotions in the Nursing Department, which they say were made “in gross violation of UGC or Nursing Council norms.”
Initially, the faculty members staged a pen-down strike, paralyzing academic and administrative activities. However, with the university administration refusing to engage in constructive dialogue, the association has now escalated its protest to an indefinite hunger strike until Dr. Abdullah’s suspension is revoked.
The protesting faculty members assert that the suspension of Dr. Abdullah is not just an attack on an individual but a direct assault on academic freedom, faculty rights, and democratic values within the university. They have called for immediate intervention from higher authorities to ensure justice and uphold academic integrity. source KMS