Srinagar, May 8 -- Kashmir's academic community is grappling with a troubling paradox: some of the most qualified individuals-holding PhDs from prestigious institutions like IITs, Central Universities, and international research centers-are relegated to being "academic arrangements."

This term, bureaucratic in tone, fails to capture the harsh reality these educators face: they are treated as disposable, temporary workers.

Across J&K's public colleges and universities, these contract faculty members are integral to the functioning of the system. Many of them hold advanced degrees, some with postdoctoral qualifications and research experience that rivals their peers anywhere in the world.

Yet, despite their critical role in teaching, res...