Srinagar, June 27: A group of top-ranking aspirants under the Open Merit category for the Basic Agriculture Training (BAT) program at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Kashmir (SKUAST-K), has made a formal appeal to the Vice Chancellor, requesting an increase in seat quota for the BAT 2025 batch.

In a letter addressed to the Vice Chancellor, the aspirants expressed their gratitude for the administration’s responsiveness to student concerns in the past. However, they highlighted a pressing issue concerning the unavailability of seats under the Open Merit (OM) category for the current admission cycle.

The students urged the Vice Chancellor to intervene and direct an increase of at least five seats in the Open Merit category. They argued that while seats under various reserved and in-service categories remain vacant and accessible, no such seats are available under OM—even for the top meritorious candidates. The aspirants have also expressed willingness to be accommodated on vacant seats reserved for other categories if those remain unclaimed.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel

“This is our final opportunity to seek admission,” the letter read, noting that age restrictions would render many of them ineligible in the next academic year. The candidates also referenced a precedent set last year when SKUAST-K increased seats by 15 per district for another diploma course during the second round of counselling.

Citing the underutilized capacity at KVK Pulwama, which can accommodate 200 candidates but has only 60 currently enrolled, the aspirants emphasized that there is both precedent and logistical feasibility for expanding the Open Merit intake.

The letter concluded with an appeal for timely action before the second round of counselling and a request to avoid the need for public demonstrations. “We place our complete faith in your sense of justice and fairness,” the letter stated.