Srinagar: The University Grants Commission (UGC) has written to the Central University Division of the Union Ministry of Education (MoE) about the complaints received about financial irregularities and the appointment of the incharge Vice Chancellor of the Central University of Kashmir (CUK).
In an official communication addressed to the Under Secretary Department of Higher Education, the Under Secretary UGC said that appropriate action might be taken in the matter.
“I am directed to forward herewith a copy of the complaints received against the VC CUK and to request you to take appropriate action in the matter as the MoE is the appointing authority of the VC,” the official document reads.
The UGC said that it received complaints from different quarters about illegal appointments and financial irregularities at the CUK by the outgoing VC.
The UGC also took cognisance of the complaints received against the appointment of the varsity’s incharge VC.
A controversy erupted over assigning the charges of incharge VC of the CUK after the former VC demitted office.
The former VC in pursuance to statute 2 (4) under Section 27 of the CUK Act 2009, demitted office on October 16 after attaining the age of 70 years.
Before leaving his office, Prof Mehrajuddin approved that Prof Farooq Ahmad Shah would function as the university’s incharge VC.
However, the move created a controversy after the professors in the university claimed that the seniority of the professors was not respected while assigning the charges of the incharge VC till the appointment of a permanent VC of the university.
A search committee has been already constituted to draw a panel of candidates for the appointment of CUK’s new VC.
Around 14 candidates including three professors from Kashmir are shortlisted for their interaction with the search committee.
The interaction of the candidates shortlisted for the post of CUK’s VC scheduled on November 1 was postponed at the last hour.
Notably, the appointment of incharge VC CUK has landed in court after the aggrieved Prof Abdul Gani filed a petition over the appointment by the former VC before leaving his office.
In wake of this, the High Court directed the authorities concerned to consider Prof Gani’s representation for appointment as VC CUK within four weeks.
As per the order passed by the bench of Justice Vinod Chatterji Koul, the authorities should also take into account the provisions of the Central Universities Act, 2009, including Rule 2 (7) to the second schedule to the act and law laid down in Suman Agarwal versus Vice Chancellor and others, (1996) 1 SCC 632.
Prof Gani in his plea through his counsel submitted that being the senior-most professor in the university, he was entitled to be appointed as the varsity’s VC.