JAMMU: Cluster University,Srinagar (CLUS) is all set to get a new Vice-Chancellor (VC) as the search committee has submitted a panel to Raj Bhawan comprising names of three applicants for finalization of a VC name by Chancellor Manoj Sinha. Academician associated with a prominent Higher Educational Institute (HEI) of the country likely to assume charge of VC in CLUS in couple of days, Says highly placed reliable sources.
Intriguingly, on the other hand, the selection process for appointment of new VC of Cluster University of Jammu (CLUJ) have virtually become a game of snake and ladder resulting into a fluid situation in the working of varsity which since its inception is hogging the headlines in newspapers for academic as well as administrative fiasco.
Reliable sources told JK Global News, “For the post of VC in CLUS, the search committee received 65 applications comprising 30 from J&K UT and rest 35 from other states of the country in response to the selection process which was commenced in May, 2024. The search committee shortlisted names of 11 academicians which includes 5 from Kashmir and 6 belongs to prestigious HEIs of the country including AMU, JMI, JHU etc. Out of these 11 shortlisted applicants, the search committee recommended a panel of three for final approval by the Chancellor, LG Manoj Sinha.
With extension of three months on expiry of three years tenure on April, 2024, the incumbent VC of CLUS, Prof. Qayyum Husain has initiated series steps leading to remarkable achievements in academic as well as administrative front in tune with aims for which the Cluster Universities were established across the country, avers an officer of HED. Besides introduction of integrated and vocational courses during the tenure of Prof. Husain, the varsity successfully conducted interviews for filling crucial post of Registrar on permanent basis and also approved remuneration to teachers of CLUS’s colleges for evaluation of answer sheets.
Further sharing details, the sources in HED asserted that academic is the first casualty due to uncertainty prevailing in CLUJ on account of prolong delay in concluding the search for “most suitable” academician to occupy office of VC in one of the most challenging varsity of J&K UT.
Worthwhile to mentioned here that the incumbent VC Prof. Bechan Lal has been given indefinite extension on expiry of 3 years in Feb, 2024. First, the process for selection of new VC for CLUJ which was commenced in the month of March eventually ended in a thud owing to rejection of search committee’s recommended panel by the Chancellor. Now, the fresh search committee reportedly headed by Director of IIM, Jammu, is in deep slumber over setting into motion the process for search of new VC for CLUJ, said an officer of HED confiding anonymity