Award of punishment by Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) to Prof. S.P.Sarswat, Nodal Principal, Jammu Division Colleges, for misusing official position and deliberate as well as willful disobedience of its order is a matter of serious introspection for Jammu and Kashmir Higher Education Department. As a matter of fact for the past few years, the HED is in news for all the wrong reasons over repetition of a coterie of Principals in prime GDCs of Jammu city ignoring merit and seniority. Competent lot has been either sidelined or posted at far flung colleges. This undesired precedence has attained new low during the LG administration and caused immense damage to academics besides encouraging indiscipline in college administration.
For gross contempt of a Tribunal order, except Prof. Sarswat, none academician in J&K HED had so far faced immediate removal from prime post and penalized with hefty fine of Rs 2 lakh. Hope, this significant order of CAT must act as an educational exercise for power drunk educationists who in their misplaced belief start considering government institutions as personal fiefdom and defiance exhibited by some colleges to retain some teachers on flimsy grounds upon their transfer by higher authorities is a testimony of their past misadventures. To set the house in order, it is high time for Babus in Higher Education Department to end practice of favoritism in postings of Principals. For building institutions of fame and academic excellence, instead of yes men and sycophants, the merit topped with seniority and competency should remain the sole criteria for postings of Principals. If this set of thump rule can be applicable to GDCs of Kashmir province then why Jammu is facing discrimination where Women Colleges in City are headed by male Principals.
Finalising candidates for college Principal postings is the domain of Government. However, it is learnt that a coterie of Principals claiming themselves as King Makers in HED are lobbying for adjustment of two blue eyed academician as Principals in prime GDCs in Jammu City so as to keep intact deplorable practice of quid pro quo. While one is entrenched in Cluster University of Jammu for longtime, whereas another currently enjoys attachment in Civil Secretariat on completion of CCL which was availed after posting as Principal in Ramban district. Distruction of pristine view of GGM Science College campus (Heritage College) with haphazard manner construction activities is also a reflection of poor leadership. There are also allegations of corruption in purchases worth crores and use of sub standard materials in various construction projects which are underway in several colleges in Jammu city. In the light of these disheartening developments, it becomes imperative for Minister for Education to scrutinize minutely the proposals for postings of GDCs Principals in Jammu city with emphasis on merit, seniority, active tenure as Principal and contribution in college development. Sooner, the better in the larger interest of students as well as society.