Kashmiri students at CT University have alleged that they were denied food in the campus canteen during the holy month of Ramzan and were threatened with eviction and cancellation of admissions after requesting basic arrangements for sehri and iftar. The row sparked late-night protests on campus and eventually led to the removal of Vice-Chancellor Nitin Tandon.
According to the students, the issue began when they approached the university authorities seeking meal timings aligned with fasting hours. They said that despite being regular fee-paying hostel boarders, no arrangements were made for pre-dawn (sehri) or evening (iftar) meals.
In a video shared on social media, some students claimed, “We are not getting anything for sehri or iftar. Even today when we went to the mess, there was no food available.”
They further alleged that when the matter was taken up with the Vice-Chancellor, their concerns were dismissed. Instead of a resolution, they claimed they were met with threats.
“The Vice-Chancellor used abusive language and told us to cancel our admissions and leave. We were warned that our admissions could be revoked,” the students alleged.
A purported video of the Vice-Chancellor addressing students circulated widely online, adding fuel to the controversy and drawing criticism from various quarters. Students also claimed they were warned of possible hostel eviction for demanding food at what authorities reportedly termed “inappropriate timings”.
The matter reached the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association, whose national convenor Nasir Khuehami said the body had received formal complaints. He stated that the students were being penalised for seeking meal arrangements in accordance with their religious observance.
“No student should face threats or coercion for practising their faith,” Khuehami said, adding that universities must remain inclusive spaces that uphold dignity and equal treatment regardless of religion or region.
The issue also drew political attention from Jammu and Kashmir. Iltija Mufti of the Peoples Democratic Party raised the matter publicly and sought the intervention of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. In a social media post, she questioned whether such alleged conduct towards Kashmiri Muslim students was being endorsed and called for strict action against the Vice-Chancellor.
As protests intensified, the Ludhiana district administration stepped in to defuse tensions. Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Jain said the situation was resolved amicably after authorities ordered a detailed inquiry into the allegations.
Subsequently, Chancellor Charanjit Singh Channi confirmed that Vice-Chancellor Nitin Tandon had been removed from his post in the wake of the controversy. The university has also initiated an internal probe and constituted a committee led by the Jagraon Sub-Divisional Magistrate to investigate the incident.
Officials said the situation on campus is now under control, and authorities will continue to monitor developments to ensure a peaceful and inclusive environment.
With the Vice-Chancellor’s removal and an inquiry underway, focus now shifts to the outcome of the investigation and whether further administrative steps will follow.