'No Internet, No Activity Against Interests Of Kashmir Univ

After remaining closed for almost four months, Kashmir University (KU) is allowing residential students to join back only if they furnish a ‘bond’ which includes restrictions on using internet to share information and an assurance to not “indulge in activities inimical to the interests” of the university.

The bond, a non-judicial affidavit, sets a pre-condition for the students before they get to use the hostel facilities of the university. It also asks students to cooperate with the university administration in case of “inclement weather and present circumstances” without any specification on the latter.

The students believe the order has been issued keeping in view the situation which arose after the abrogation of special status of Jammu and Kashmir and division of the state into two union territories.

Thousands of people, including protesters, lawyers, political leaders and activists, were rounded-up in the aftermath of the abrogation of provisions of Article 370 of the Constitution that granted special status to J&K.

Restrictions, including suspension of internet and pre-paid mobile services, were imposed along with Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) that bars gathering of more than four persons.

Four months on, the curbs remain, along with a ban on all kinds of protests, especially political ones.

“It (bond) has a vague language which the university administration can interpret according to its own convenience,” said a research scholar who has already furnished the bond in order avail the hostel facility.

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