Two Kashmir University professors were relieved from the headship of their respective departments on Tuesday following their involvement in a scuffle that led to police complaints against the duo.
As per an order, a copy of which is with KNT, issued by Assistant Registrar Administration-TW said: “Pending enquiry by the constituted committee in the incident vitiating academic atmosphere in the campus on 1.04.2022, Prof Muhammad Yousuf Ganai, Dean School of Social Sciences/Head Department of History and Professor Gul Mohammad Wani, Head Department of Political Sciences are relieved from their respective administrative assignments forthwith.”
The University has assigned the task of Dean School of Social Sciences to Dean Research Prof Irshad Ahmad while assigning the charge of HOD History to Professor Imtiyaz-ul-Haq, Head Department of Economics and charge of HOD Political Sciences to Professor Irshad Ahmad Shah, in-Charge Librarian.
The action by the university administration comes following an outcry within and outside the university over the ‘shameful’ incident on Friday in which Prof Ganai was allegedly assaulted by nephew of Prof Gul Muhammad Wani inside the university campus when the viva of a research scholar was about to be conducted under their supervision.
The two professors allegedly entered into a fistfight while the student community watched the entire episode which also led to exchange of verbal abuses between the two professors.
The matter eventually ended in police station Nigeen which registered two complaints by Prof Ganai and Prof Wani in the matter, while referring the case to a competent court in view of the non-cognisable nature of the offences involved, sources said.
The Court has reportedly bailed out the nephew of Prof Wani against a bail surety while ordering an inquiry into the matter by the Jammu and Kashmir police, they said.
The University authorities had faced severe criticism from within and outside the academic circles for their inaction in the matter since the matter came to the fore last Friday.
Sources in the University said that LG’s office also took a serious note of the matter and sought an urgent report from the Vice-Chancellor. (KNT)