SRINAGAR — Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Iltija Mufti visited the Faculty of Forestry at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K) at Benhama in Ganderbal and expressed solidarity with students protesting against the proposed recruitment criteria for forest department posts.
Iltija backed the students’ demand for recognition of their specialised qualifications, arguing that graduates who spend four years studying forestry should receive appropriate consideration for jobs directly related to their field.
The controversy centres on proposed recruitment rules for the post of Forester and the removal of an earlier provision that awarded 30 additional points to candidates holding forestry degrees. Students contend that the changes could put professionally trained forestry graduates at a disadvantage in recruitment.
Iltija urged Forest Minister Javed Ahmed Rana to intervene and honour what she described as an assurance that forestry-related posts would require specialised qualifications. She said the government should ensure a level playing field for graduates rather than leave their employment concerns unresolved.
Emphasising the importance of specialised knowledge in protecting Jammu and Kashmir’s forests and fragile ecology, Iltija said trained forestry professionals were needed to address deforestation, ecological degradation and other environmental challenges.
The students’ protest has continued as they seek a review of the recruitment framework. The issue intensified last week after SKUAST-K suspended most academic activities at the Faculty of Forestry and directed hostel residents to vacate their rooms.
Iltija had criticised the university’s move as unjust to the protesting students.
The graduates have called on the government to reconsider the eligibility criteria and ensure that their professional education is appropriately recognised in recruitment to forestry-related posts.
The article first appeared on The Kashmir Pulse at https://kashmirpulse.com/education/iltija-mufti-backs-forestry-students-protest-over-recruitment-criteria-in-jk/116873.html
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