University Faculty in IIOJK Launch Indefinite Hunger Strike

In a bold protest against perceived injustice, Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University faculty members are risking their health to demand the reinstatement of a suspended colleague and defend academic freedoms in IIOJK.

Faculty members of Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University (BGSBU) in Rajouri district, Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), have begun an indefinite hunger strike, declaring it a “fast unto death” in protest of the “arbitrary and unjust” suspension of Dr. Parvez Abdullah, an Assistant Professor in the university’s Management Studies department. Dr. Abdullah, who is also the President of the university’s teaching association, was suspended by the university administration as part of an inquiry against him.

The faculty members argue that the suspension is not a mere disciplinary action but an attempt to silence Dr. Abdullah, who had been advocating for an investigation into questionable faculty promotions in the Nursing Department. These promotions, according to the teachers, were made in violation of University Grants Commission (UGC) and Nursing Council regulations.

Initially, the faculty took to a pen-down strike, halting both academic and administrative functions within the university. However, with the administration refusing to engage in constructive dialogue, the teaching association escalated their protest, now demanding the immediate revocation of Dr. Abdullah’s suspension. The protestors have vowed to continue their hunger strike until their demands are met.

The protesting faculty members view the suspension of Dr. Abdullah as more than an attack on one individual—it is seen as a direct assault on academic freedom, faculty rights, and democratic values within the university. They are calling for immediate intervention from higher authorities to ensure justice and uphold the integrity of the university system.

As tensions rise on campus, the future of academic governance and faculty autonomy at BGSBU remains uncertain, with the striking faculty pushing for transparency and fairness in university operations.