Srinagar 14 May (KDC): Kashmir University Scholars along with students on Saturday staged protest in the varsity’s premises against the dismissal of the Department of Chemistry’s Professor Altaf Hussain Pandith, who was sacked on the ‘terror’ links.
Scholars and students assembled in the varsity campus and demanded the reinstatement of Pandith. They said that Pandith is a ‘revered’ Professor and the students who made great strides in their studies and careers are emblematic of his perseverance and dedication towards teaching students.
In a letter addressed to Lieutenant Governor J&K Manoj Sinha, scholars and students appealed to him for Pandith’s return. “His dedication, passion and punctuality always motivated us to excel in the field of chemistry. This is because of his dedication and excellence that majority of his students achieved excellent grades, got placed in various top most institutes in and outside the country such as IIT’s, IISER’s, ISC, Princeton University, Texas USA and other academic institutes,” said students in the letter.
“We know him as a great researcher, academician, mentor and a humble human being. Considering the time, efforts and resources invested to build a research facility from ground zero. Now it is his time to reap the benefits and contribute more to the scientific community and society,” they said.
By terminating him from the service, the scholars under his supervision would affect them and put our degrees at stake, students said.
While vouching for Prof. Pandith, students said a person like him can never ever have any connection “whatsoever” with any anti-national activity in any manner. “We are sure such a person would never do anything that is against the interests of this nation or its benefits and are sure there might be some misunderstanding in this regard,” they said.
They appealed to LG Sinha to look into the matter and help in reinstating Prof. Pandith forthwith as his absence would take a toll on their education. (KDC)
