Jammu, Apr 15: The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has flagged multiple academic, regulatory and administrative deficiencies in the functioning of the University of Jammu, including running courses without mandatory approvals.

The CAG recommended corrective measures and said that the university should strengthen its affiliation process to ensure that only institutions meeting regulatory norms are granted affiliation, along with the preparation of comprehensive inspection reports to safeguard academic quality.

It also drew attention to the issues of poor industry linkages, delays in evaluation and weak placement outcomes.

The university was offering a wide range of programmes, including 38 doctoral, 24 MPhil, 50 postgraduate, 19 undergraduate courses, besides diplomas and certificate programmes across eight faculties, the CAG report on Union Territory finances for the year ended March 31, 2024, said.

However, the audit noted that the university had obtained approval from the All India Council for Technical Education for only two technical programmes — MBA and MCA — while four other technical courses were being run without approval. “Further, the MCA programme had not been accredited by the National Board of Accreditation, depriving students of quality assurance benefits”.

The report also highlighted deviations from prescribed academic standards, including non-adherence to the AICTE model curriculum and lack of required infrastructure in programmes such as M Tech Computer Science.

On degree norms, the CAG observed that the university failed to align course nomenclature with guidelines of the University Grants Commission. “The Business Administration in Hotel Management (BBA-HM) course continued with outdated nomenclature and duration, in violation of UGC regulations”.

The audit further pointed out that teacher education programmes were being conducted without recognition from the National Council for Teacher Education. “The university neither sought mandatory approvals nor adhered to prescribed norms for admissions and faculty requirements”.

In terms of academic collaboration, the CAG pulled up the university for weak industry-academia linkages.

“Of 26 MoUs signed with national and international institutions, only two were fully functional, while 20 remained non-operational. The Industry-academia partnership centre, established in 2019, was also found non-functional due to infrastructure constraints”.

The CAG report said that the university’s innovation and startup ecosystem was similarly underperforming. “The University Business Incubation and Innovation Centre (UBIIC) and Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), set up to promote entrepreneurship, remained largely inactive with activities limited to webinars”.

The report also raised concerns over poor placement outcomes. “Of over 1,000 students enrolled in professional courses between 2017 and 2022, only 224 secured placements, while students from general courses had virtually no placement support”.

The audit report pointed to “serious” deficiencies in the examination system, including errors in marks cards, incorrect evaluation of answer sheets and delays in re-evaluation results. “The audit noted that up to 27 per cent of students saw their results change from fail to pass after re-evaluation, indicating significant flaws in assessment processes”, it added.

Delays were also reported in PhD thesis evaluation, with only 22 per cent completed within the prescribed six months, it said, adding that in some cases, delays extended up to over four years, adversely affecting students’ academic progression.

The CAG also pointed to instances of out-of-syllabus questions in 135 examination papers, leading to re-examinations and awarding of grace marks, but noted that no action was taken against erring paper setters.

On research, the audit found delays and incomplete projects, with eight projects remaining unfinished despite expenditure while terming monitoring mechanisms as “inadequate”.

“The University Business Incubation and Innovation Centre (UBIIC) and Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), set up to promote startups and entrepreneurship, remained non-functional, the audit said, adding that the university failed to provide adequate support for innovation and startup ecosystems”, it added.

Additionally, the report highlighted that 82 per cent of affiliated colleges had not obtained accreditation from the National Assessment and Accreditation Council, despite mandatory requirements.

It also found that several colleges were operating with temporary affiliation for years and lacked qualified teaching staff.

The report highlighted that placement activities were confined to a few select departments. “Of around 1,000 students enrolled in professional courses between 2017 and 2022, only 224 secured placements through the Placement Cell”.

The CAG further noted that 84 colleges under the university were functioning with temporary affiliation for periods ranging from six to 28 years. “In 51 physically verified colleges, 113 out of 331 teachers appointed in 24 non-government colleges did not possess prescribed qualifications”.

Jammu, Apr 15: “Drug abuse isn’t just a law & order issue but a social cancer requiring every part of society to fight. I urged for “Whole of Government” and “Whole of Society” approach. I believe when the government’s strength and society’s resolve act as one, then even the toughest challenges crumble,” the Lieutenant Governor Shri Manoj Sinha said on Wednesday.

The Lieutenant Governor said for decades, Pakistan has orchestrated drug smuggling into Jammu Kashmir to fund terrorism and destroy our young generation.

“We will map every hotspot. And I promise you: we will hit each one like a surgical strike. Not a single smuggler will be spared. The entire network will be dismantled,” he said.

The Lieutenant Governor was speaking at a public meeting in Ramban as part of the Drug-Free Jammu Kashmir campaign.

Intensifying the crusade against drug menace, the Lieutenant Governor led the Padyatra from District Police Line to District Administrative Complex, Ramban. He was joined by public representatives, senior officials of civil and police administration; civil society members, religious leaders, members of business and trade community; ex-servicemen; prominent citizens, various stakeholders, women, students, youth, and people from different walks of life in large number, who were gathered with resolve to eradicate drug addiction at its roots, transform the society, and secure our youth’s future, he said.

Addressing a massive gathering, the Lieutenant Governor highlighted society’s role in fight against drug menace and called for collective action. 

“If the neighbour’s house is on fire, yours is not safe. Because drugs don’t spread like flames but they spread like wind. That’s why a ‘Whole of Society’ response is our only real and potent weapon against drug menace.

I firmly believe when society stands united behind a cause, the law becomes a thousand times stronger. We must build a society where the dealer fears law, and the one who breaks free from drugs feels proud of themselves, their family, their society, and their government,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

The Lieutenant Governor said history proves that organized societies drive change and women’s power plays a crucial role.

“This fight belongs to mothers and sisters, elders, youth, teachers, panchayats, athletes, and elected representatives alike. It is not the job of just one department. Defeating addiction is our collective responsibility,” he said.

The Lieutenant Governor called upon every Panchayat and Ward to form women’s vigilance committees.

“Women are the frontline of this war. You know where the household money goes. If anyone in the family showing symptom of addiction, don’t hide it. Don’t call him a criminal. Call him a patient. But that patient needs society’s help, not just four walls,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

The Lieutenant Governor directly addressed the youth and observed that drugs are not cool but they are slavery to drugs and drug dealers.

“Channel your energy into sports fields, art, and in study.  In schools and colleges, we will make drugs a symbol of cowardice, not cool. Treatment, identification, and rehabilitation will be our priority,” he said.

The Lieutenant Governor emphasised that each drug de-addiction centre must be genuine and equipped with all necessary resources. “Strict monitoring of these centres is essential. If any centre is found operating illegally or causing harm to society and the youth, it must be shut down within 24 hours without any hesitation, irrespective of how influential the individual running it. No one should be spared. Action is already underway against all such centres”, he said.

The Lieutenant Governor directed police officials to break drug supply chains, list all Ramban drug traffickers at police stations and dismantle drug networks.

“The time for silence for society is over. Our divisional and district administration have prepared a comprehensive multi-pronged strategy covering every ward and panchayat. This fight is ours, all of us. If we fail today, future generations won’t forgive us.

Let us make a pledge today that no drug dealer will find shelter in our village or our street. Every addict will be guided toward healing. Every young person’s energy will be channelled toward purpose,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

On the occasion, the Lieutenant Governor administered the Anti-Drug Pledge and flagged off a bike rally. A series of awareness programmes inspired citizens to take an active role in the crusade against narcotics.

Jammu, Apr 15: The registration for the annual Amarnath yatra in south Kashmir Himalayas began on Wednesday, with a large number of devotees thronging counters set up here for the pilgrimage.

The advance registration is open in both online and offline modes.

The 57-day pilgrimage will commence from the twin tracks — the traditional 48-km Nunwan-Pahalgam route in Anantnag and the 14-km shorter but steep Baltal route in Ganderbal — on July 3 and will conclude on Raksha Bandhan on August 28.

“The registration for Amarnath Yatra has begun. There is heavy rush as pilgrims are coming to get themselves registered. It has been opened in both online and offline modes,” Punjab National Bank’s Jammu Circle Head, DGM Pankaj Kumar Verma, told reporters here.

Punjab National Bank acts as the nodal bank for the yatra.

Across India, 556 bank branches are involved in the registration process, out of which 310 branches of Punjab National Bank participate.

In Jammu, six counters have been set up,” he added.

The offline branches in Jammu, including those of J-K Bank and PNB, witnessed long queues since 8 am as devotees lined up an hour before the start of the registration process.

“I want to be among the first to pay obeisance at the cave shrine. That is why I came early this morning to get myself registered. This will be my second yatra,” Jammu resident Yamni Sharma told reporters.

Sharma, who will be undertaking the yatra via the Pahalgam route with her parents, sister and brother, said there is huge improvement in facilities and normalcy is prevailing in Kashmir, so more Hindus should come and pay obeisance.

Vinood Kumar, who had come from Pathankot in Punjab for registration at the PNB branch in Rehari Colony, said this is the 11th time he is undertaking the yatra.

“We have always paid obeisance at the cave shrine in the first batch for the last many years. This year too, we have registered for the pilgrimage,” he said.

“Our message to all devotees is to come and pay obeisance and seek blessings. For us, this yatra is in our annual calendar,” he said.

The PNB DGM said as the law and order situation in Jammu and Kashmir has improved significantly, support from banks has also increased.

“We are anticipating that the number of people will rise further. Accordingly, we are assessing how we can further simplify and ease the bank registration process,” he added.

The offline registration can be done in 556 bank branches across the country, including 310 branches of Punjab National Bank, 90 branches of J&K Bank, 37 branches of Yes Bank and 99 branches of SBI, besides others, officials said.