Srinagar, Jan 5: The City’s heritage institute – Sri Pratap College is in a trouble. Reasons:  The College is without Principal, Accounts Officer and the Sectional Officer for the past few months.
 The college staffers said since the then Principal attained superannuation in September, 2009, the authorities didn’t provide his substitute but a “caretaker principal” was put to chair.
 The staffers said he doesn’t have “requisite powers to run the college smoothly, including those to disburse salary of the staffers.”
 The college is also without an AO for the past two months when the official was transferred without replacement.
  “However, no one has been appointed to fill up these vacancies. The in-charge principal has been appointed with limited powers of disbursement.”
 “Our salary was pending for some months as we could not withdraw it without head possessing such powers. After that the in charge principal was given some limited powers,” a staffer wishing anonymity disclosed.
 Students are also an annoyed lot.
  “Although our examinations are going on, we faced problems in the absence of principal. In short, when there is no head, everyone takes things casually, be it a student or staffer,” said a student from Pulwama. 
 Expressing dismay over the attitude of the authorities, a senior faculty member said the college was “partially defunct.”
  “The financial matters related with GP fund are not settled as the in-charge principal lacks such powers. Due to some unknown reasons, our college is without any head,” the staffer said.
 It was also learnt the expenses of examination duty are lying pending with the college causing inconvenience to employee’s particularly lower rung Non-Teaching Staff.
 There’s also no Sectional Officer for the past few months.
 Commenting on the issue, Director Colleges, ND Wani said: “The appointment orders for the principal will be issued within one or two weeks.”
 “It is not the only college where there is no principal. There are other colleges as well including Government College Nawakadal.”
 On the SO issue he said: “The post of the sectional officer will be filled soon.”
  “The Accounts Officer will be sent by Finance department as they have agreed but it will take time.” 
 Pertinently, the college was granted heritage status and celebrated its centenary celebrations in 2005.
 This institution has produced several stalwarts. Even some of the former chief ministers happen to be the SP College alumni including Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, Syed Mir Qasim, GM Sadiq, Dr Farooq Abdullah, GM Shah and Mufti Muhammad Sayeed.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 5 Jan 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 5 Jan 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 6 Jan 2010 00:00:00 IST