Seventeen Kashmiri nursing students studying at Mewar University in Rajasthan were released on Wednesday after spending two days in a sub-district jail in Chittorgarh following a dispute over the recognition status of their nursing programme.
The students had been detained after tensions escalated on the campus over allegations that the B.Sc. Nursing course offered by the university lacked approval from the Rajasthan Nursing Council.
The development has raised concerns about the academic future of several students enrolled in the programme, many of whom are currently in the final year of their studies.
According to the students, they had taken admission in the nursing programme during the 2022–23 academic session under the Jammu and Kashmir Special Scholarship Scheme (JKSSS). The students alleged that the course being conducted by the university had not received the mandatory approval from the Rajasthan Nursing Council.
The issue reportedly surfaced after students personally visited the Rajasthan Nursing Council seeking clarity regarding the approval status of their course.
Students claimed that officials informed them that no application or file regarding approval of the nursing programme from the university was under consideration.
The students said the development has placed their academic future in uncertainty, especially as several of them are nearing completion of their degree programme.
Dr. Mohammad Momin Khan, President of the All India Medical Students Association (AIMSA) Jammu and Kashmir unit, urged the Rajasthan government to intervene in the matter and address the concerns raised by the students.
“We urge the Rajasthan government to ensure that no retaliatory or punitive action is taken against the students who had raised legitimate concerns regarding the recognition of their course,” Dr. Khan said.
He said the students had staged peaceful protests seeking clarity about their academic future and demanded transparency regarding the approval status of the programme.
Dr. Khan also called for a thorough investigation into how students were admitted to a nursing programme that allegedly lacked the required statutory approvals.
He urged authorities to take immediate steps to safeguard the academic interests of the affected students.
The students have appealed to the authorities to facilitate their transfer to a recognised and approved nursing institution so that their education can continue without further disruption.
The incident has triggered wider concerns regarding regulatory compliance in professional education programmes and the protection of students’ academic rights.