JAMMU: Hectic hobnobbing is underway to scuttle formation of ‘Search Committee’ to secure extension for incumbent Vice Chancellor, Jammu University, Prof Manoj Dhar, whose term of three years is all set to expire in July, 2021.
There is a lobby who’s is trying hard to ensure continuance of Prof. Manoj Dhar, as Vice-chancellor of Jammu University. But, the Raj Bhavan is fully aware of the administrative inertia prevailing in JU campus and search committee for selection of new VC is likely to be announced very soon, said reliable sources.
The order No :GS-3 (Appt-VC)/JU/2018/794-797 dated 12/2/2021 issued by Nitishwar Kumar, Principal Secretary to LG, amply clears Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha futuristic action plan for change of VC in JU, revealed our highly placed sources.
Pertinently, the LG’s secretariat in a thoughtful move on Feb 12, 2021 has cut short tenure of Jammu University current VC-Prof Manoj Dhar from 5 to 3 years term.
Though LG’ secretariat prefer to eschew reasons for sudden change of VC tenure term from 5 to 3 years, the authoritative sources in JU attributes this dramatic development as the outcome of alleged fluid academic and administrative situation prevailing in campus of A+ NAAC accredited Jammu University.
“Change in VC tenure from 5 to 3 years shows that Prof. Manoj Dhar has failed to perform as per expectations of the Raj Bhawan” -says a Professor, who also served as Registrar for a brief period in JU.
Frequent change of heads of crucial administrative wings in JU by VC-Prof Dhar have caught attention of LG’ secretariat, said our sources.
Insiders alleged that Prof Dhar has created mess in JU by executing several crucial tasks in cahoot with coterie of sycophants besides appointing juniors to head significant posts at the cost of deserving and senior faculty members.
To everyone surprise, Prof Dhar changes 5 Registrars in time period of less than one and half year since he was appointed as VC in July, 2018.
Not only this, during current VC’s tenure, there is frequent transfer and postings of Controller of Examination (CoE), Director, College Development Council (DCDC) and Director-Directorate of Distance Education (DDE).
Interestingly, former Governor S.P. Malik also expressed his anguish over the appointment of “tainted” Prof R.K.Ganjoo. The Governor secretariat, then dashed a letter to JU authorities explaining reasons for appointment of Prof Ganjoo as Registrar of JU.
There are also wide spread allegations against VC-Prof Dhar for appointing juniors as Director Sports, Director-IT, Provost Hostels and Registrar at the cost of competent and experienced faculty members.
Even, under the incumbent VC, one lady Professor “fails” to get justice in an alleged case of sexual harrassment in the campus.
The Jammu University has already suffered a lot in the past few years. Hence, the Raj Bhawan without wasting much time must constitute ‘Search Committe’ on priority for appointment of new VC preferably an outsider, asserted a renowned social and RTI activist, Prof. S.K.Bhalla.
Funds worth crores were spend mindlessly in organising workshops having no substantial output for growth of academic excellence, alleged a senior Professor of JU. “Colourful headings with pictures in newspaper cannot substitute sound academic excellence in the varsities, he added.
Highly placed sources in Raj Bhawan disclosed that the government is apprised of every development unfolding in JU and 3 years is more then enough time to prove administrative accumen.
Expressing annoyance over the unpleasant development that took place in JU in last few years, a Bureaucat wishing anonymity said “Hoisting of the tricolour on 135-feet mast adjoining Fountain Plaza in the campus, seems to be the only high fly achievement of Prof Manoj Dhar as VC of Jammu University”.