Jammu, Aug 8: Putting all speculations to rest, former Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir Sudhir Singh Bloeria on Monday assumed the charge as the first Vice-Chancellor (V-C) of the Central University of Jammu (CU-J).
 Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India issued order of his appointment as the first V-C of CU-J for a term of three years.
 Bloeria, an IAS officer of J&K cadre, is an ex-Army officer having served in the Infantry from 1966 to 1972. He took part in the 1971 war with Pakistan.
 An alumnus of the Scindia School Gwalior, he is a science graduate, also holds a Masters Degree in History, and acquired the Ph.D Degree from his thesis on “The Battles of Zojila-1948”. A graduate of the National Defence College, New Delhi, he takes keen interest in military history and national security matters.
 Bloeria also held key positions in stat e administration which include Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, Development Commissioner, Ladakh, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Principal Secretary to Governor, Secretary to the Government of Jammu and Kashmir in the departments of Food, Civil Supplies, Transport, Forest, Public Works, Health and Medical Education.
 He had been the Managing Director of J&K small Scale Industries Development Corporation, and J&K State Road Transport Corporation, as also the CEO of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board.
 During the inception stage, he was the Chief Executive of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University. He has also been on deputation to the Central Government as Joint Secretary J&K Affairs (MHA) and Director Enforcement.
 Bloeria was posted as Special Commis sioner, Rajouri and Poonch districts in 1990-1992, with specific responsibility to keep that area free from militancy during that critical period.
 He remained Home Secretary to the State Government in 1995 and 1996 when Parliament and Assembly elections were conducted in the State after a gap of almost ten years. His last assignment was Chief Secretary J&K Government from November 2002 till his superannuation in September 2005.
 In July 2008, when Governor’s rule was imposed in J&K, Bloeria was appointed as Advisor to the Governor. He was instrumental in successfully handling the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board land agitation and, later, conducting the Assembly Elections.  
 He has also authored three books, “The Battles of Zojila-1948”, “Pakistan’s Insurgency and India’s Security” and “The Dying Terrorism.”
 Jammu Province Peoples Forum (JPPF), a conglomerate of several social, trade, religious and political organisations spearheading agitation over the delay in making Jammu Central University functional, has welcomed the appointment of Bloeria and termed it the victory of Jammuites, especially student community.
 The Central University of Jammu has remained a non-starter due to controversy over the appointment of the V-C with Jammu based groups demanding appointment of a local person as the first V-C.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 8 Aug 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 8 Aug 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 9 Aug 2011 00:00:00 IST