Kashmir Observer: Srinagar: Thursday, 30 July 2026.
The university disputes key findings in an earlier report, saying its decisions complied with rules and that several issues remain before courts or internal committees.
Days after a report
brought its administration under scrutiny, the Central University of Kashmir on
Wednesday issued a point-by-point rebuttal defending its decisions on
accommodation, finances and personnel matters.
The response, released from the university’s Ganderbal campus, presents a different account of events highlighted through Right to Information disclosures, government records and court proceedings.
University officials said the earlier report, which extensively quoted Dean of Academic Affairs and Director of Media & Public Relations Dr. Shahid Rasool, overlooked key context and presented an incomplete picture.
The university, the rebuttal reads, functions in accordance with the Central Universities Act, Government of India regulations, the General Financial Rules and other statutory provisions.
A major part of the campus communique addresses payments made to the National Institute of Technology Srinagar, where Vice-Chancellor Prof. A. Ravinder Nath stayed after taking charge.
The university said those payments had no connection with the later allotment of the Vice-Chancellor’s official residence at Jawahar Nagar.
According to officials, NIT Srinagar received the payments before the government allotted the bungalow, making the two decisions unrelated.
The university also said the Jawahar Nagar residence required renovation and refurbishment estimated at about ₹55 lakh. It said the Vice-Chancellor chose against that expenditure, leading the university to retain the bungalow in its existing condition and use it with minimal investment.
The rebuttal also explains why Prof. Sandhya Tiwari, Dean of International Affairs, was allowed to stay in the residence temporarily.
The university described the arrangement as an administrative decision taken to meet institutional requirements and encourage women’s leadership in higher education. Officials said the decision highlighted the Government of India’s “Nari Shakti” vision and also served as a humanitarian gesture.
Earlier, a report titled How One Bungalow Led to Bigger Questions at Central University of Kashmir examined the university’s administration through Right to Information records, government documents and official responses.
It raised questions about the Vice-Chancellor’s accommodation, a salary dispute involving a former registrar, audit observations and other administrative decisions, drawing widespread attention within academic circles and public forums.
The university said the report failed to capture the full context of the decisions.
Addressing the dispute involving former Registrar Prof. Mohammad Afzal Zargar, the rebuttal said he served as Registrar for nearly ten years and that the matter is before a court.
It said the university would cooperate with the judicial process while an internal committee examines the issues. The rebuttal urged that conclusions await the outcome of those proceedings.
The university also disputed claims involving Deputy Registrar Abdul Rashid Bhat.
According to the rebuttal, Bhat never served as Finance Officer. Officials acknowledged that allegations relating to excess salary payments remain under examination and said any excess payment found during the inquiry would be recovered according to the rules.
They added that the payments in question relate to a period before Prof. Ravinder Nath became Vice-Chancellor and said the present administration initiated an inquiry after the issue came to its notice.
The rebuttal also defended Registrar Dr. Nisar Ahmad Mir’s visit to the University of Sussex in England.
The university said the visit formed part of an academic collaboration programme with the University of Delhi that received approval from the Ministry of Education.
Officials described it as a capacity-building programme aimed at strengthening academic partnerships and international engagement.
They also said registrars in central universities serve until the age of 62 under the applicable recruitment rules.
The university has now placed its response on the public record. Court proceedings, committee findings and official documents will determine how the questions surrounding its administration are ultimately resolved.
The university disputes key findings in an earlier report, saying its decisions complied with rules and that several issues remain before courts or internal committees.
The response, released from the university’s Ganderbal campus, presents a different account of events highlighted through Right to Information disclosures, government records and court proceedings.
University officials said the earlier report, which extensively quoted Dean of Academic Affairs and Director of Media & Public Relations Dr. Shahid Rasool, overlooked key context and presented an incomplete picture.
The university, the rebuttal reads, functions in accordance with the Central Universities Act, Government of India regulations, the General Financial Rules and other statutory provisions.
A major part of the campus communique addresses payments made to the National Institute of Technology Srinagar, where Vice-Chancellor Prof. A. Ravinder Nath stayed after taking charge.
The university said those payments had no connection with the later allotment of the Vice-Chancellor’s official residence at Jawahar Nagar.
According to officials, NIT Srinagar received the payments before the government allotted the bungalow, making the two decisions unrelated.
The university also said the Jawahar Nagar residence required renovation and refurbishment estimated at about ₹55 lakh. It said the Vice-Chancellor chose against that expenditure, leading the university to retain the bungalow in its existing condition and use it with minimal investment.
The rebuttal also explains why Prof. Sandhya Tiwari, Dean of International Affairs, was allowed to stay in the residence temporarily.
The university described the arrangement as an administrative decision taken to meet institutional requirements and encourage women’s leadership in higher education. Officials said the decision highlighted the Government of India’s “Nari Shakti” vision and also served as a humanitarian gesture.
Earlier, a report titled How One Bungalow Led to Bigger Questions at Central University of Kashmir examined the university’s administration through Right to Information records, government documents and official responses.
It raised questions about the Vice-Chancellor’s accommodation, a salary dispute involving a former registrar, audit observations and other administrative decisions, drawing widespread attention within academic circles and public forums.
The university said the report failed to capture the full context of the decisions.
Addressing the dispute involving former Registrar Prof. Mohammad Afzal Zargar, the rebuttal said he served as Registrar for nearly ten years and that the matter is before a court.
It said the university would cooperate with the judicial process while an internal committee examines the issues. The rebuttal urged that conclusions await the outcome of those proceedings.
The university also disputed claims involving Deputy Registrar Abdul Rashid Bhat.
According to the rebuttal, Bhat never served as Finance Officer. Officials acknowledged that allegations relating to excess salary payments remain under examination and said any excess payment found during the inquiry would be recovered according to the rules.
They added that the payments in question relate to a period before Prof. Ravinder Nath became Vice-Chancellor and said the present administration initiated an inquiry after the issue came to its notice.
The rebuttal also defended Registrar Dr. Nisar Ahmad Mir’s visit to the University of Sussex in England.
The university said the visit formed part of an academic collaboration programme with the University of Delhi that received approval from the Ministry of Education.
Officials described it as a capacity-building programme aimed at strengthening academic partnerships and international engagement.
They also said registrars in central universities serve until the age of 62 under the applicable recruitment rules.
The university has now placed its response on the public record. Court proceedings, committee findings and official documents will determine how the questions surrounding its administration are ultimately resolved.
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