Nursing students block Srinagar-Baramulla Highway, demand INC registration
Srinagar: Traffic movement on the Srinagar-Baramulla highway was disrupted today after nursing students staged a protest near St. Joseph’s Hospital in Baramulla, Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
According to Kashmir Media Service, eyewitnesses said around 40–50 girl students blocked the highway, demanding registration under the Indian Nursing Council (INC). The protesting students said that although they had pursued nursing, they were instead registered under the Pharmacist Board, which they termed as unjust.
Carrying placards and raising slogans, the agitating students blocked traffic on the busy Baramulla–Srinagar highway for nearly half an hour. They appealed to the occupied Jammu and Kashmir administration as well as the Indian Health Ministry to urgently intervene and restore recognition, warning that their academic future was in jeopardy.
The INC, in a recent order, stated that its recognition for St. Joseph’s courses was being withdrawn due to serious deficiencies found during an inspection. As per the directive, degrees obtained from the institute after March 2025 will only be valid within occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
Students, visibly distressed by the decision, expressed their anguish in front of officials and the media. “INC has withdrawn recognition for our college. Now, we cannot apply for jobs outside JK or sit in national-level exams,” said one protesting student. Another said, “We got admission here through BOPEE, and only today we came to know that our college is not INC-recognized. We appeal to the administration to fulfill our demands so that our future is not destroyed.”
As the protest intensified, police and civil administration officials arrived at the spot to prevent escalation. SHO of Baramulla, Syed Ovais Geelani, along with Tehsildar Baramulla, Inam-ul-Haq, engaged with the students to defuse tensions. College Principal Sister Vanisha also joined the talks that were later held inside the classroom premises.
Officials assured the students that their concerns would be taken up with higher authorities.
