Centre rejects outstation students demand for shifting NIT out of J&K

Srinagar: The Union Human Resources Development Ministry (HRDM) has rejected outstation students’ demand to shift Srinagar’s National Institute of Technology (NIT) out of Kashmir.

The ministry has also turned down their plea of setting up an alternative campus extension outside the Valley. Besides, the student’s plea seeking relaxation of migration rules has also been declined; a change in the migration rule would have allowed the students to shift to their desired NIT campus in the country.

Read: NIT row: Students adamant on returning home, shifting varsity out of Kashmir

"The demand for shifting the NIT out of Kashmir has been outrightly rejected by the HRD ministry officials. It has been made clear to the students," official sources said on Saturday.

The sources said Ministers and HRD officials however assured the students that their genuine demands like better amenities inside the campus and improving the academic atmosphere will be addressed.

"The Board of Governors of the NITs will be meeting on April 11 where all these issues will be addressed," the sources said.

Read: Fresh protests rock Srinagar NIT, outstation students take out march

They said the ministers told the students that security has never been an issue at the NIT but the state government will ensure that concerns on this front will also be addressed.

"The ministers asserted that students of the institute have been here at the peak of militancy and no one has ever been harmed," the sources said.

Meanwhile, an official of the NIT said the meeting was a positive development as the situation inside the campus was improving.

The situation is calm but the outstation students are seemingly still on protest, Registrar, NIT Srinagar, Fayaz Ahmad Mir told PTI.

Mir said as there were no protests at the campus this morning.

The students are in their hostels as there was no class work today as Saturday and Sunday are off days, he said.