There has been a shift from government to governance to good governance to SMART governance in order to ensure smooth, efficient, transparent and accountable functioning in the systems and processes. It has been established that SMART governance is now a basic right of every citizen. However, experience reveals that in this part of globe it is mere change in the name and not style of functioning. The J&K State has suffered from paralysis in almost all systems of governance. As such, higher education is not an exception. The matter demands an urgent attention of all concerned stakeholders keeping in view the New Education Policy in offing being adopted by the parliament.
It is noteworthy that in the rapidly changing globalized economy and society, knowledge has become an essential product and the driving force. According to a UNDP report more than 80 per cent resources of the world are accessible to only 25 per cent of the world population, that is, the developed countries. On the contrary, 75 per cent of the world population has access to only 20 per cent of the resources. The reason behind this inequality is the disparity of access to knowledge. As such, the knowledge industry in any society plays a significant role in human resource development which is a key to overall advancement. Obviously, the focus of the governance should be on vibrant institutional building in education system. In this context, the role of knowledge leaders, knowledge managers and knowledge workers cannot be understated. Vice Chancellors, Deans or Principals perform as knowledge leaders who on the strength of their intellectual capital construct a vision to lead an academic organization in a competitive environment so as to gain a comparative advantage.
The Islamia College of Science and Commerce Srinagar, established in 1961, is a premier institution disseminating knowledge-skills, and values to shape up productive citizenry to guide society in different walks of life. The College was burned down in the year 1972 and 1990 and the structures were razed to the ground. However, the strong will exhibited by the then governance that the College was re-constructed by consuming a little time in order to ensure that no damage is caused to the academic activities of the students.
Over the period, the College has achieved a variety of milestones. It stands accredited by NAAC ‘A’ Grade (3.27 Score Points out of four). The College enjoys the status of College with Potential for Excellence (CPE). Furthermore, the College has been declared an Autonomous Institution as such has been de-affiliated from the University of Kashmir. Consequent upon this, the institution is authorized to develop the curricula for different programmes, conduct examinations, evaluation process and declaration of results.
This institution is a fully grant-in-aid College. The Principal, the Accounts Officer and the Section Officer are therefore deputed to this institution from Higher Education Department, Finance Department and General Administration Department respectively to perform different roles of a watchdog in Academic- cum- Administrative Affairs, Financial Matters and Secretarial Practices. The College principal superannuated on 30th Aprils, 2018 and from 1st May, 2018 till date the institution is operated without regular principal for the past three months now. In this regard, the Alumni Association of the College registered at least three grievances on 17th May 2018 with Hon’ble CM and also with Hon’ble Governor on 29th June 2018 and 17th July 2018 respectively. Meanwhile, the Alumni Association had a meeting with the then Higher Education Minister, Mr. Ansari, in May, 2018. The meeting was arranged by the local MLA who is an active member of Islamia College Alumni Association.
It is pertinent to note that good governance is a birth right of every citizen. It may be a human being in blood and flesh, a body corporate incorporated under law or an academic organization recognised by an Act. Thus, natural as well as legal citizens enjoy the right of good governance.
To conclude, a volley of questions thus raised to the existing governance system as for instance:
How come the transparency and accountability be ensured and justified before the society in the matters like conduct of examination and result declaration?
What role the affiliating University and Governing Body and Governing Board of the College have been playing to ratify the academic activities conducted by the College during this intervening period in absence of a watchdog?
Does the affiliating University perform its supervisory role as envisaged by the University Grants Commission Norms for Autonomous Colleges till they are enshrined with the status of Deemed- to- be-Universities?
Writers are associated with the Islamia College Alumni Association