Says scholars forced to study in suffocating conditions
SRINAGAR: The Jammu & Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) on Monday urged the Vice-Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia, Prof. Mazhar Asif, and the Registrar, Prof. Mahtab Alam Rizvi, to intervene immediately to address the prolonged non-functioning of the air conditioning system in the University’s Central Library and to strengthen safety infrastructure by restoring non-functional CCTV cameras and installing additional surveillance equipment.
National Convenor of the Association, Nasir Khuehami in a statement issued here, said that the University’s Central Library, one of the most extensively used academic facilities on campus, has remained without a functional air conditioning system for nearly four months, causing immense hardship to hundreds of students, research scholars and faculty members who depend on the library for academic and research activities.
Khuehami stated that despite the issue being repeatedly brought to the attention of the University Librarian and other library officials by students and research scholars on several occasions, no effective remedial action has been taken so far. He said the continued inaction reflects an avoidable administrative delay in addressing a basic infrastructural requirement that is essential for maintaining a conducive academic environment.
He further noted that New Delhi has been witnessing prolonged spells of intense summer heat, with soaring temperatures making conditions inside the library extremely uncomfortable. Students and research scholars, many of whom spend long hours preparing for competitive examinations, dissertations, research publications, coursework and thesis work, are reportedly experiencing excessive heat, suffocation and severe physical discomfort. The prevailing conditions, he said, have adversely affected their concentration, productivity and overall well-being, with several students being compelled to leave the library before completing their academic work due to the unbearable environment.
Khuehami further highlighted that the issue extends beyond the malfunctioning air conditioning system. A number of CCTV cameras installed within the library premises are reportedly non-functional, raising concerns regarding the safety and security of students, University property and valuable library resources. He urged the University administration to immediately restore all dysfunctional cameras and install two additional high-resolution CCTV cameras at the corner sections of the main reading hall to eliminate blind spots and ensure comprehensive surveillance coverage.
“The Central Library is the intellectual heart of the University. Hundreds of students and research scholars spend several hours there every day in pursuit of academic excellence. They deserve an environment that is safe, comfortable and conducive to learning. Functional air conditioning, adequate ventilation and effective security arrangements are not luxuries but essential institutional responsibilities. A premier Central University must ensure that its students and scholars have access to basic academic infrastructure that supports quality teaching, learning and research,” Khuehami said.
He appealed to the Vice-Chancellor and the Registrar to personally intervene and direct the concerned departments to restore the air conditioning system on priority, repair all non-functional CCTV cameras, install additional surveillance equipment wherever required, and institute a periodic inspection and preventive maintenance mechanism to ensure that essential infrastructure remains fully functional throughout the year.
The Association expressed hope that the University administration would treat the matter with the urgency and seriousness it deserves, recognising that ensuring adequate academic infrastructure, student safety and a conducive learning environment is fundamental to maintaining the standards of teaching, research and academic excellence at one of India’s premier Central Universities.
Meanwhile, Khuehami, accompanied by senior research scholars and students, met Deputy Proctor Dr. Rajan Patel and Assistant Proctor Dr. Masood Malik on Monday to raise the issue of the prolonged non-functioning of the air conditioning system and deficient safety infrastructure in the University Library. The Proctorial Team assured the delegation that the matter would be taken up with the concerned authorities on priority and that the air conditioning system would be restored at the earliest.