Srinagar: The University of Kashmir in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) is grappling with a significant faculty and administrative staff shortage, as revealed by a Right to Information (RTI) inquiry. Nearly 20 percent of the university’s sanctioned positions are currently vacant, raising concerns about the state of higher education in the region.

The data, obtained through an RTI request filed by Jammu-based activist Raman Kumar Sharma, indicates that 570 out of 2,859 approved positions at the university remain unfilled, according to Central Public Information Officer Ghulam Mohammed Wani.

The shortage is most pronounced in teaching roles. Of 56 sanctioned professor posts, only 9 are occupied. Similarly, 91 out of 120 associate professor positions are vacant, while at the assistant professor level, 80 out of 371 posts remain unfilled.

Administrative roles are also affected, with five out of seven director-level positions unoccupied. Additionally, there are 110 junior assistant posts vacant, further complicating the university’s operations.

Critics argue that the vacancy issue highlights deeper problems in IIOJK’s higher education system. Despite claims of development and growth by BJP-backed media, the educational sector’s challenges paint a different picture.