Sujit Kumar Calls for Dialogue to Resolve Student Issues, Urges Universities to Act Promptly and Maintain Campus Discipline
GANDERBAL, OCTOBER 12 :
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir Zone Sujit Kumar has urged university administrations to adopt a balanced and timely approach towards student protests, stressing that genuine grievances should be resolved through dialogue, while violations of law must be addressed in accordance with established legal provisions.
Addressing participants at a two-day national workshop titled “Reimagining Higher Education Administration for Viksit Bharat@2047,” the IGP highlighted the importance of effective campus administration, preventive measures and coordination between educational institutions and law enforcement agencies.
According to news agency KNC, Sujit Kumar observed that student demonstrations sometimes take place without grievances being formally brought to the notice of university authorities. He urged institutional heads to establish effective communication channels so that students can raise their concerns and receive timely responses through appropriate administrative mechanisms.
The IGP stressed that university authorities must distinguish between genuine student demands and activities that violate the law. He called upon administrators to engage with students constructively, address emerging disputes at an early stage and take appropriate action whenever unlawful conduct occurs.
Emphasising the rule of law, Sujit Kumar said that university campuses cannot be treated as spaces exempt from legal accountability. He noted that although educational institutions have their own administrative frameworks, these do not provide immunity from the law.
He further explained that police intervention may be required in situations involving law-and-order concerns, particularly when a formal request is made by the competent university authority, subject to applicable legal provisions and circumstances.
Referring to the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the IGP highlighted the legal provisions governing unlawful assemblies, obstruction of public servants and rioting. He said such offences carry specific legal consequences, including imprisonment and fines, depending on the applicable provisions and circumstances of each case.
The police chief called upon university administrators to exercise sound judgement, uphold institutional discipline and ensure that students’ legitimate concerns are addressed without unnecessary delay.
He emphasised that dialogue, early intervention, responsible administration and respect for the law are essential to maintaining a peaceful academic environment and ensuring that educational institutions remain focused on teaching, learning and research.
The IGP’s address underscored the need for university authorities to balance students’ rights to raise genuine concerns with their responsibility to maintain discipline and ensure compliance with the law.(KNC)