SRINAGAR: The continuous closure of hostels at the Central University of Kashmir by the administration since the abrogation of Article 370 in August has put scores of students appearing in their semester-end examinations in a tight spot.
Several 5th semester students hailing from far flung areas of the valley and pursuing Integrated Zoology and Biotechnology programmes at the CUK alleged that the varsity administration was denying them hostel facility during the crucial time of their exams even as they had paid for it in advance.
In absence of hostel facility during the ongoing winter, the students said has hampered their studies.
They said it was impossible for them to reach the exam centres at 10: 30 am, the reporting time for the papers fixed by the administration.
To add to their woes, the varsity administration has scheduled the papers on alternate days giving less time for the students to prepare for the next paper, they said.
“The university is conducting 5 papers in 10 days and the reporting time is too early to suit this winter. We have to shiver in cold as we have been forced to leave from home in the wee hours of the morning,” a student from south Kashmir’s Anantnag district said.
Another student from district Kupwara alleged that the varsity administration had left them in the lurch by denying them hostel rooms even during their exams as a result of which they could not study properly for their papers.
By closing down hostels, the varsity administration had forced the students hailing from far flung areas to pay extra money on rented rooms, they complained.
Although the hostels were temporarily opened for the boarders during the practical exams recently, the administration closed them immediately thereafter as per the hostellers.
Vice Chancellor, CUK, Prof Meraj ud Din Mir could not be contacted for comments.

Irshad Khan