Srinagar, Oct 13: The J&K Higher Education Department (HED) has sought details of audited accounts for the preceding five years, including funds generated and utilised and payments made to individuals not directly involved in the functioning of universities as educational institutions.
The move comes in the wake of the Supreme Court’s proceedings dated September 17, 2026, directing States and Union Territories to obtain specified information from universities and colleges under their jurisdiction and place it before the Court.
The matter relates to Writ Petition (Civil) No. 531 of 2025, titled Ayesha Jain versus Amity University, Noida, and others, before the Supreme Court of India.
The HED has also sought details of the “benefits received” from the Central and state governments, including land allotments, legal relaxations and other privileges.
In this regard, the HED has issued an official communication to the Registrars of Kashmir University (KU), Jammu University (JU), Central University of Kashmir (CUK), Central University of Jammu (CUJ), Cluster University Srinagar, Cluster University Jammu, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU), Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University (BGSBU) and Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST).
As per the official communication, all universities have been asked to disclose their complete fee structures, including charges collected at admission, during the course and under other heads such as development funds and special-event funds.
The universities have also been asked to provide details of the exact procedures adopted for admissions to every course, along with the names of those responsible for admissions, setting question papers, conducting examinations and evaluating answer scripts.
The HED has also sought details of the persons handling university funds and the role of management in the admission process.
The universities have been asked to submit details of teaching and non-teaching staff, along with their modes of recruitment.
Following this, the Registrar of Kashmir University has issued a circular directing key administrative and academic offices to furnish comprehensive, authenticated records on the institution’s finances, admissions, examinations, recruitment and student grievance-redressal mechanisms, in line with the Supreme Court’s directions in the case concerning Amity University, Noida.
In a circular issued on October 13, 2026, the KU Registrar asked the concerned departments to provide item-wise information sought by the HED in connection with Writ Petition (Civil) No. 531 of 2025, titled Ayesha Jain versus Amity University, Noida, and others.
The university’s Finance, Accounts and Audit sections have been asked to submit audited reports, details of funds generated and utilised, payments made, fee collections, government benefits and concessions, surplus funds and investments.
The Directorate of Admissions has been asked to provide the prescribed admission procedure for every course, along with details of the authorities and persons responsible for the admission process.
The Controller of Examinations and the Examination Wing have been asked to furnish details regarding the setting of question papers, conduct of examinations and evaluation of answer scripts.
The General Administration, Establishment and Recruitment sections have also been directed to provide information about personnel handling university funds, management and administrative responsibilities, recruitment, salaries and emoluments, payment mechanisms and service conditions of teaching and non-teaching staff.
The university has further sought details from the Dean Academic Affairs, deans of schools and heads of departments regarding teaching staff, class allotments, classes actually conducted and alternative arrangements made where classes were not held, particularly from January 2025 onwards.
The Grievance Cell, grievance-redressal committees and Dean Students Welfare have been asked to provide details about the constitution and functioning of grievance-redressal mechanisms, the nature and number of complaints received, their disposal and outcomes, and the time taken to resolve complaints during the last three years.
“The requisite information duly verified and authenticated by the competent authority and supported by relevant records and documents, wherever applicable, shall be furnished to this office positively without fail, to facilitate consolidation and timely onward submission to the HED within the stipulated timeframe,” the KU circular reads.
“The matter may be treated as most urgent, being connected with time-bound directions of the Supreme Court of India. All concerned are requested to ensure strict adherence to the prescribed timeline,” it reads.
