Postings of Principals in Colleges’ ignoring merit cum research work will directly impact the National Education Policy and severely dent the vision of PM Modi for revolutionizing the Higher Education sector. For ushering glorious era in HED, the LG Manoj Sinha needs to bust nexus operating transfer industry and ensure that prime colleges must be headed by those who top the merit list, says Prof. SK Bhalla
JAMMU: Twin bugs of favoritism and nepotism in posting of government degree colleges (GDC) Principals ignoring merit and seniority have raised big question mark on the vision and mission of concerned in implementation of the Prime Minister’s prestigious project to revolutionize the Higher Education sector in Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory through the implementation of New Education Policy (NEP).
If reliable sources are to be believed, the current postings of college Principals are not in consonance with the merit list of selectees which was released by JKPSC based on seniority cum merit. There are allegations that Special Secretary HED, Rakesh Badyal with the help of Director Colleges Yasmeen Ashai are prevailing upon the higher authorities in finalizing allotment of colleges to principals, as per their whims and fancies.
Recently, the order issued by the HED pertaining to placement of college principals evidently shows that meritorious has been sidelined deliberately to adjust favorites and blue eyed. The criterion demands that toppers in list are eligible for posting in prime colleges. However, a few toppers besides many far below as per the merit list of select principals are continuing in premier colleges on the strength of their foul clout in the corridors of power, said an officer of HED, who wished not to be quoted. This unholy nexus, if allowed to continue in HED will play havoc with NEP, added an officer.
Sharing details, the reliable sources said “As per the HED portal, the postings of Principals and teachers are classified into three categories-Very hard Zone, Hard Zone and Soft Zone.
However, the data shows that children of lesser God keep shuttling from Very Hard Zone to Hard Zone for several years despite being topper in the list. While, the soft zone comprising colleges of city hubs are exclusively kept for blue eyed principals despite the fact that they are far below in merit list and a few of them are non PhD.
To ascertain the allegations, the JKGN analyzed the list of principals posting Order No 270-JK (HE) of 2022 dated 21-12-2022 and came across startling facts.
Several figuring far below in the merit list including non PhD were posted as Principals in premier colleges of soft zone whereas the top 10 selectees except blue eyed, who are known for permanent cozy postings, rest all are posted in very hard zone ignoring their merit and research work experience.
The beneficiary Principals of soft zone colleges posting in Kashmir division include Nazir Ahmad (S.No 32) allegedly considered as a close confidant of Director Colleges posted in GDC Bemina, Mohd Amin Malik (S.No 33) -GDC Allochi Bagh, G M Lone (S.No104) –GDC Hadipora and Nilofar Bhat (S.No 75) –GDC Nawakadal. Not only this, for the last 5 years Prof. Khurshid Ahmed Khan, is bestowed with soft zone posting in Govt S P College and BA Rather, a non PhD is also posted as Principal GDC Srinagar.
Whereas in Jammu division, BB Anand (S.No 89)-GDC Sidhara, Kuldeep Raj (SNo 74)-GDC Kunjwani, Rajesh Gupta (S.No 70)-GGM Science College, Ashu Vashist (SNo 61)-GDC Paloura, Rajni Bhagat (S.No 58)-GDC RSPura, Meenu Mahajan (SNo 69)-GCW Gandhi Nagar, Surinder (S.No 22)-SPMR College, Aekta Gupta (S.No 37)-GCOE, Jammu, Nalini Pathania (S. No 28)-GDC Nagrota, Chanchal Khajuria (S.No 42)-GDC Katra and Manohar Lal (SNo 22)-GDC Bishnah.
In contrast, Farooq Mir, who is topper in selection list of Principals was sideline in a very hard zone as Principal GDC Bomai. Prior to this, he served in far flung areas as Principal GDC Hanjipoora, Kulgam and GDC Tral, Pulwama for almost 3 years. Similarly, topper No 2-Satinder Kour allotted posting as Principal GDC-Ramgarh, a border area in district Samba. In the same manner Udhay Bhanu (SNo 3) has been posted in far flung GDC Ramnagar, KK Sharma (SNo 5) –GDC Bhaderwah, Sangeeta Sudan (SNo 7) –GDC Mahanpur, Yasmeen Farooq (S.No 8)-GDC Pulwama and Muzamil Hussain (SNo 20)-GDC Budhal.
Whereas, the rest of toppers among first 20 in selection list who are considered as blue eyed in the academic circle including Chander Shekhar, Twinkle Suri, Naveen Anand and Ranvijay Singh, are enjoying choice postings in couch style Cluster University, Jammu. In addition, Sunil Gupta (SNo 14) is on deputation in BOPEE.
This is ridiculous state of affairs prevailing in HED in J&K UT and warrants immediate intervention of LG Manoj Sinha as well as Chief Secretary and Principal Secretary. says Prof. SK Bhalla.
The NEP lays thrust on promotion of research and innovation in Higher Education based on research and innovation but here in our UT non PhD Principals as well as those standing at bottom in the select list are continuously bestowed with prize postings that raises a serious question mark about the vision and mission of HED, J&K UT, added Bhalla.
The biggest proof of this nonsensical practice has been seen in posting of Principals in prime colleges of Jammu city namely GGM Science College, GCW Gandhi Nagar, Commerce College and GCOE. Earlier, the prestigious GGM Sc College used to be the Nodal College in Jammu division but for the last few years the Nodal College status keeps on shuttling owing to incompatible posting of Principal which evidently shows there is something fishy going on HED, angrily said Prof Bhalla.
Repeated attempts to contact Principal Secretary Alok Kumar as well as Director Colleges, Yasmeen Ashai did not materialize. However, Special Secretary HED, Rakesh Badyal interacting with JK Global News maintained that all postings of college principals are approved with the consent of top boss and denied having any role in it.