The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association has appealed to Union Home Minister Amit Shah to intervene and revoke a controversial circular issued by Delhi University, which has directed its departments and affiliated colleges to collect detailed personal information from students hailing from Jammu and Kashmir, PTI reported on Tuesday.
The university’s circular instructed departments to gather sensitive data such as students’ Aadhaar numbers and residential addresses, specifically targeting those from Jammu and Kashmir.
Delhi University Proctor Rajni Abbi defended the directive, stating to PTI that it was intended “for the better safety and security of the students from Jammu and Kashmir” amid reports of harassment faced by Kashmiri students in the wake of the recent attack in Pahalgam. She further explained that Delhi Police had sought this data and that the circular was issued as per instructions from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.
In response, the students’ association denounced the move as discriminatory and unconstitutional, describing it as “community profiling” and asserting that it infringes upon basic rights.
“The information is being sought only from Kashmiri students, raising serious concerns of targeted surveillance,” the letter sent to Amit Shah read. “This unjustified surveillance creates an atmosphere of fear and exclusion, rather than integration and belonging.”
The association also raised the question of redundancy, noting that such information is already provided by students during the university’s admission process.
“We believe that your timely intervention can restore faith among Kashmiri students in the institutions meant to protect and nurture them,” the letter concluded.
Following the Pahalgam attack, there have been reports of targeted violence and threats against Kashmiri Muslims in states such as Uttarakhand, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh.
In the aftermath, the People’s Union for Democratic Rights, a civil liberties organization, urged academic institutions across the country to ensure the safety and protection of students from Kashmir.
This story was originally published in maktoobmedia.com.
