The Jammu and Kashmir High Court has ordered the closure of all private colleges and institutions offering professional courses in the state to put an end to the exploitation of poor students and to ensure a fair selection to all the students.
In his judgment, Justice Bilal Nazki said all private medical, dental, engineering and other colleges, besides electronics and computer science institutions should be closed with immediate effect.
Justice Nazki was acting on an advertisement put up by a private college in a local newspaper inviting applications for admission to various courses.
He directed the divisional commissioners of Kashmir and Jammu to implement the order.
They were also instructed to report back to the court immediately.
He also directed the universities in the state and the board of technical education not to conduct examinations for these colleges and institutions.
However, he said his order will not be applicable to colleges and other institutions recognised by the Medical Council of India and the state government.
Justice Nazki observed that all admissions to recognised colleges and institutions should be made through the state authority to ensure that selection.s were made fairly
He described it as rather unfortunate that some unauthorised colleges and institutions were looting poor students of the state.
He said it was the duty of the court to protect such students from exploitation.
