Srinagar, July 23: The State government has asked the Union Human Resource Development Ministry to reconsider its decision to appoint Prof Amitabh Matoo as Vice-Chancellor of the Central University Jammu, sources told Greater Kashmir on Friday. 
 They said the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary S S Kapur has written to the Union Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry advising against the appointment of Prof Amitabh Mattoo.
 Kapoor, according to the sources, has cited a report from the divisional commissioner, Jammu, to argue that Matoo's appointment could trigger law and order concerns in a state where the political environment is already volatile.
 When contacted the Chief Secretary denied that the state government had written any letter to the Central Government in this regard.  He said the letters were written by some people from Jammu. “The state government has no locus standi in the selection of the vice-chancellor. The decision is being taken by the search committee of the HRD Ministry,” Kapoor added.
 Pertinently, Prof Mattoo was recommended for the post by the Union HRD Ministry some two months ago, but his candidature is held up in Rashtrapati Bhawan owing to a series of letters terming him “pro-Pakistan”, “pro-separatists”, “not a true Kashmiri Pandit” and “a rank outsider to Jammu”.
 The letters have been sent to the President Pratibha Patil by Jammu Central University Morcha, Panthers Party Shri Ram Sena, Jammu Joint Students Federation, and others. Interestingly, Matoo has served as the youngest VC of the Jammu University.
 Sources said the President usually does not spend much time in giving its approval. “Rashtrapati Bhawan has reportedly sent the letters to the HRD Ministry for its views.
 In its reply, the ministry, according to the sources has written that Matoo was selected by a committee of experts after hectic deliberations. On Matoo not being a “true Jammuite”, the ministry has pointed out that Central Universities Act, 2009 clearly states that domicile cannot be an issue in the selection of the Vice-Chancellor. Matoo was born in Srinagar.
 He is Professor of International Politics at New Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University, member of the National Knowledge Commission, member of the Monitoring Committee of French Research Institutes in India and Fellow of the 21st Century Trust. He is on the Executive Committee of the Pugwash India Society.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 23 Jul 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 23 Jul 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 24 Jul 2010 00:00:00 IST