M.Tech students accuse KU and SSM College of negligence

SRINAGAR — Alleging academic negligence and indiscrimination on part of authorities at SSM College, Pattan and Kashmir University, M.Tech students of 2018-20 batch at SSM College of Engineering on Monday said that the students were given admission through entrance test and Gate quota by Kashmir University in August 2018 and allotted the SSM College of Engineering, Pattan.

Students said that soon after joining the course in August 2018, the university authorities after almost more than six months changed their course specialization from Thermal Engineering to General Mechanical Engineering without any reason and appeared in 1st Semester exam in July 2019, for which the result is still awaited.

“Following the abrogation of Article 370 and post 5th August lockdown, the students left no stone unturned in attending the classes amid the harsh weather of Winters. But soon after the minor assessment of 2nd Semester in February 2020, the major exam could not be held due to the lockdown due to COVID-19.”

As per university instructions, the students are regularly attending online classes for 3rd Semester, however as the recently issued guidelines by UGC / MHRD were implemented by KU for all PG courses, the students of M.Tech at SSM College were again ignored and kept undecided with the MS/MD who are otherwise working in COVID hospitals and are being governed by MCI Rules. The MD candidates have to follow MCI Guidelines and more importantly, their exam is lab based in hospitals with all COVID equipments.

The students further said that they are from far-flung areas, and even some are residing in red zones, making it extremely difficult to appear in the exams.

Keeping the condition of students in a pathetic state by not even clearing one semester in two years, the students appealed to LG, the VC Kashmir University, Dean academic, Controller of Examinations and other university authorities to kindly implement the UGC guidelines and decision taken for other PG courses.