Srinagar, Apr 1: The Search Committee constituted to find the new Vice Chancellor for the University of Kashmir (KU) is yet to complete the process for unspecified reasons, worsening the prevailing uncertainty on the university campus.
The Committee headed by Dr Panjak Mittal, Secretary General, Indian Association of Universities (AIU) was constituted by the J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha in December 2021, in terms of the provisions of Kashmir and Jammu Universities Act, 1969. Prof Najma Akhtar, VC Jamia Millia Islamia University New Delhi and Prof Mohammad Miyan, former VC, MANU Hyderabad are two members on the panel.
A top university official told Greater Kashmir that the Search Committee met on 16th and 17th of this month in New Delhi to shortlist the candidates, from amongst 130 applicants for the post, to hold an interaction with the panel. However, the official said, it is not clear whether the short-listing has taken place or not.
“The KU professor who was assigned to render Secretarial Assistance to the Search Committee, which has held some meetings in New Delhi earlier also, has claimed that he was kept out of the purview of March 16-17 discussions and was told by the Search Committee that an email shall be shortly sent to him regarding the shortlisted candidates to be invited for the interaction,” the official said, adding that the said e-mail communication is awaited since March 16 for unknown reasons.
The delay in finalising the appointment process has drawn criticism from the university teachers who had earlier also urged the Search Committee to expedite the selection process to put an end to uncertainty in the campus, where many policy decisions, academic and administrative matters are pending for approval by the new VC.
“It has been nearly four months now since the Search Committee has started its job. By now they should have finished their process and submitted the final panel to the Chancellor. It is not good that the university be allowed to be headed by the outgoing VC for a long time because it has its own demerits,” said a university teacher, wishing anonymity.
Sources said the prevailing uncertainty has led to “acute chaos and indiscipline” in the university where alleged groupism among teachers and infighting among employees is leading to representations loaded with allegations against the university authorities being sent to different quarters in the government, search committee and the Chancellor’s Office.
“Even some newspapers are being forced to become party to such allegations and counter-allegations when newspapers have nothing to do with the selection process,” the sources said.
Notably, LG Manoj Sinha, who is Chancellor of J&K Universities, recently stated that Vice-Chancellors of J&K Universities has been done purely on the basis of academic and research achievements.
Addressing a symposium at SKICC here, the LG, according to an official statement, remarked: “The appointment of Vice-Chancellors of J&K Universities has been done purely on the basis of academic and research achievements, the result of which would be visible in the coming days.”
Sources said the LG office recently sought a status report from concerned quarters regarding the ongoing process for appointment of new VC.
“The LG office is closely monitoring the appointment process almost on a daily basis,” they said, reiterating that the appointment of new VC has been prioritised by the LG office in view of the start of new academic session in the university.
As per the University Act, the Search Committee has to submit a panel of three names to the Chancellor to make the final selection.
“We want merit, eligibility and other norms governing the VC appointment to prevail, rather than any other considerations to given any weightage. It doesn’t matter where the VC comes from or who he/she is, whether local or non-local. Only merit must be the consideration,” the KU teachers said.
When contacted to inquire about delay, one Search Commitee member “regretted” he cannot comment on the issue.
“Sorry I cannot talk on the issue. I regret,” he told Greater Kashmir.