SRINAGAR: Massive resentment is brewing among Principals of Government Degree Colleges in Kashmir province over continued policy of alleged favoritism and nepotism adopted by Higher Education Department for adjustment of their favorites in cozy zones ignoring seniority and merit.
Reacting to the recent transfer order No 90-JK (HE) of 2023 dated 3-04-2023, a section of aggrieved Principals of Kashmir province, who are forced to shuttle from one GDC to other in hard zones for years together have termed it as an outcome of fluid situation prevailing in the HED owing to absence of full time Principal Secretary.
Except Manzoor Ahmad Lone, all the three Principals namely Khurshid Ahmad Khan, Sheikh Aijaz Bashir and Ghulam Jeelani Qureshi have been shuffled within 500 meter of the Srinagar city which raises question mark on tallest claims of HED that transparency will be the hall mark in postings and those posted in far flung areas shall be accommodated in suitable locations. But, mocking its own claims, the recent order of Principals shuffling has exposed the malfunctioning of HED.
Incumbent Principal-Secretary is holding additional charge of a crucial HED and this has created chaos in processing proposals for transfer and posting of GDC’s Principals in fair manner, alleged one Principal who is languishing at a remote location in Kashmir for past several years.
We were assured that everyone who is serving as Principal in hard zone will be transferred to soft zone once the academic session concludes. However, exploiting the pre-occupation of Principal Secretary School Education Department, Alok Kumar, who is over burdened with additional charge of HED, the proposals prepared by entrenched special secretary resulting into a massive mess in the transfer and posting of Principals, alleged another aggrieved Principal posted in Kashmir division. Some aggrieved principals also demanded removal of Special secretary HED Rakesh Badyal
“Here is an urgent need to post a full-fledged Principal Secretary HED instead of assigning additional charge to over burdened PS SED. This is imperative as the HED is all set to implement NEP which may take a beating in case a permanent officer is not posted. Furthermore, there is a need to totally streamline the transfer /posting exercise so as to avoid unrest among the Principals of GDCs in J&K UT and curb the menace of corruption” says Prof. SK Bhalla.
Demanding a probe in recent transfer and posting of Principal, another Principal posted in far flung flung areas in Kashmir on condition of anonymity avers “Overstaying officers/officials especially Special Secretary manning HED in Civil Secretariat need immediate reshuffling to end culture of favoritism and nepotism in college principals”. The LG as well as Chief Secretary must intervene to further curb the rot prevailing in HED before it takes an ugly turn for the worst disaster, he added.
Even there are rumors that one Seema Mir who recently has been elevated as Principal, GDC Kathua has been assured of relocation in a city college within 6 months in the interest of administration.
Repeated attempts to seek view point of Principal Secretary Alok Kumar as well as Director Colleges, Yasmeen Ashai did not materialize as both the officers preferred not to respond to our calls.
(The news story was updated on 24/4/2023 with removal of contentious contents we made in reference to Director Colleges J&K, Yasmeen Ashai)