JAMMU: Resentment is brewing among academicians in campus of Jammu University over silence of Raj Bhawan in announcing ‘Search Committee’ for replacement of incumbent Vice Chancellor, Prof. Manoj Kumar Dhar, whose tenure has categorically been stand cut short to three years through communiqué of Nitishwar Kumar, Principal Secretary to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.
Only 19 days are left in completion of 3 years term of VC-Prof Dhar but, yet the LG secretariat, so far have not announced search committee which is a serious question mark on much talked transparency and accountability in governance of J&K after its reorganization-says a senior most professor preferring anonymity.
Delay in announcement of ‘Search Committee’ would inflict more harm than good to Jammu University. Selection of VC is a cumbersome process. The search committee would have to call for applications, scrutinise the applications and meet once or twice to finalise the set of three names to be recommended to the Lieutenant Governor. This required more time, lamented a member on JU Council on condition of anonymity.
It would not be out of place to mentioned here that LG office vide its order No :GS-3 (Appt-VC)/JU/2018/794-797 dated 12/2/2021 issued by Nitishwar Kumar, Principal Secretary to LG has shortened the tenure of Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dhar from 5 to 3 years. In light of this order, the term of incumbent VC slated to expire on July 24th, 2021.
Interestingly, the majority of academicians in JU aggrieved with burgeoning nepotism and favoritism in the functioning of JU in the last 3 years and thus aspiring for non local academician to head this institution as Vice Chancellor.
There are wide ranging allegations against Prof. Dhar for executing several significant tasks in cahoot with coterie of sycophants besides appointing juniors to head significant posts at the cost of deserving and senior faculty members.
Large scale irregularities in fixation of seniority of teachers and pro long delay in finalisation of the same is glaring example of favouritism prevailing in JU campus.
In addition, change of 5 Registrars in time period of less than one and half year since he was appointed as VC in July, 201 is just a tip of iceberg. There is frequent transfer and postings of Controller of Examination (CoE), Director, College Development Council (DCDC) and Director-Directorate of Distance Education (DDE).
In less than 2 years, the University got 4th CoE , 4th DCDC as well as 4th Director, DDE. This is a summary of mess and chaos prevailing in JU, says a Professor of JU. Besides, appointing juniors as Director Sports, Director-IT, Provost Hostels and Registrar ignoring competent and experienced faculty members.
The past three years in JU campus is a saga of mismanagement, alleged a lady Professor on condition of anonymity. “Everything in the campus is managed through a coterie of sycophants and inexperienced juniors by ignoring senior most faculty members” said another Professor.