Jammu, July 29: Giving a new twist to the ongoing controversy over appointment of the Vice-Chancellor to make the Jammu Central University functional, student groups on Friday said that no former bureaucrat would be accepted by them to head the proposed varsity.    
 It also exposed the differences in opinion among various groups spearheading the agitation over inordinate delay in making the Jammu Central University functional.
 “We oppose the appointment of a former bureaucrat as the administrator or V-C of the central university. The administrator or V-C must be a local professor who has a vital experience of research and teaching at University level and who understand the problems of the students,” Central University Joint Action Committee (CUJAC) leaders resolved in a meeting on Jammu University campus here.
 The National Secular Forum (NSF) also opposed the appointment of former bureaucrat as interim V-C of Jammu Central University. “The central government has made mockery of the Jammu. Firstly, the inordinate delay was made in the appointment of Vice-Chancellor. Now, after delay of almost two years, it is being said that interim arrangement is made and that too with retired IAS officer,” NSF president Vikas Sharma told reporters here.
 “The Central University of Jammu would be an academic institution and not a construction project or government sponsored scheme where a retired bureaucrat is being imposed,” he regretted.
 Demanding establishment of the Jammu Central University with no further delay, Jammu Central University Morcha (JCUM) demanded that the government should appoint local academician of competence as VC of this prestigious assignment, as has been agreed by the minister for HRD in the meeting held with JCUM delegation on 18 July 2011. It said that at the Morcha has categorically rejected the reported move of the HRD Minister in connivance with state government, to appoint some retired bureaucrat as time gap arrangement.
 In a joint statement issued here JCUM leaders Rajinder Jamwal, Udey Chand, Prof. Virinder Gupta, Rampaul Sharma, S. Balwinder Singh, Kuldip Chib, S.Mohinderpal Singh Pandu & RR Raina, have termed this reported move of  government to appoint a former bureaucrat  as another attempt to letdown and humiliate the Jammu people. 
 Meanwhile, Jammu Province People’s Forum-an amalgam of several social, non-political, lawyers and trade organizations—has agreed to the appointment of the ex-bureaucrat as the first V-C.
 “We are not against the appointment of any bureaucrat belonging to Jammu region as the first Vice-Chancellor as his appointment would be on interim arrangement. It would, at least, kick off the establishment of the Jammu Central University, which was allotted to Jammu after great struggle,” JPPF convenor Paviter Singh had said.
 The Union HRD Ministry has reportedly decided to appoint a former bureaucrat from Jammu region as the first V-C of Central University. For the last two years, the Central University of Jammu has remained non-starter due to controversy over the appointment of V-C.
 However, the relay-hunger strike of JPPF and National Panthers Students Union (NPSU) entered fifth consecutive day on Friday. Four members of JPPF, including Rakesh Kashyap, Tilak Kashyap, B L Bhardwaj, Chhaju Ram and Sunil Dogra sat on day-long hunger strike on fifth day.
 JPPF chairman Pavitar Singh warned the state government and union HRD ministry that any further delay in the appointment of V-C would mean justice denied for Jammuites, compelling them to resort to further line of actions.
 Similarly, four NPSU activists, including Lovely Gupta, Nitin Bakshi, Vishal Sadotra and Vishal Sharma sat on relay-hunger strike at Shaheedi Sathal in front of GGM Science College Jammu.
 The activists of Jammu Joint Students Federation (JJSF) also staged a protest against the state and the central governments for delay in appointment of V-C of Jammu Central University. They also burnt the effigy of the Chief Minister and held him responsible for delay in establishment of this prestigious institution.
 JJSF president Jatinder Singh made a fervent appeal to the people, especially students to come forward and fight for the cause.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 29 Jul 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 29 Jul 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 30 Jul 2011 00:00:00 IST