Magistrates to keep check on students

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, October 18

For the first time, magistrates have been deputed in educational institutions across Kashmir to monitor the activities of students.

The government has given strict instructions to heads of educational institutions to conduct regular morning assemblies and advise students to “concentrate on education only”. The decision was taken at a high-level meeting presided over by Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Baseer Ahmad Khan, for regulating class work and successful conduct of examinations in schools, colleges and universities.

“A magistrate shall be provided to every educational institution for the smooth functioning of schools, colleges and universities. Officials of the college administration shall be earmarked for manning entry at the main gate along with civil officers to be nominated by the district administration,” the minutes of the meeting reads, a copy of which is in possession of The Tribune. Post the abrogation of Article 370, schools and colleges were shut in Kashmir for two months. Even after the government opened educational institutions, it failed to get the students back to classes. Since Burhan Wani’s killing in 2016, the intensity of protests in educational institutions of Kashmir showed an upward trend.

“This is the first time the government has deputed magistrates to monitor student activities in educational institutions,” said a senior officer in the education department. The heads of educational institutions have been asked to make the Station House Officer of the police a part of daily meetings to be conducted for opening the educational institutions. The police have been instructed to maintain a strict vigil on educational institutions and bring to the notice of Deputy Commissioners or Senior Superintendents of Police concerned about any untoward incident. To maintain a proper liaison with the district administration and police, the government has asked the educational institutions to nominate five liaison officers.