Teaching body disqualifies Registrar from membership
Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, Aug 8: The purported decision of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST) Jammu to withdraw recruitment notifications has brought the Teaching as well as non-teaching employees to a collision with the University Administration, which has been served an ultimatum for immediate removal of the incumbent Incharge Registrar, who is allegedly manipulating the things for perpetuating adhocism in the institute.
Besides warning protests and dharnas by all the employees if the incumbent Registrar is not removed within a week’s time, the SKUAST Teachers Association Jammu has disqualified the said officer (Chief Scientist) from primary membership of the body.
“Dr Dileep Kachroo, Chief Scientist FSR ( Incharge Registrar) is hereby disqualified from the membership of Teaching Association for a period of two years for working against the welfare of teaching fraternity,” reads the circular, issued by SKUAST-TAJ after its executive body meeting at Main Campus Chatha.
The controversy erupted following the SKUAST-Jammu decision to withdraw the advertisement notifications with respect to appointments on top administrative and teaching positions in the university, on alleged flimsy grounds thus raising many eyebrows over intentions of the persons at the helm of affairs.
As per minutes of the meeting of Statutory Officers of SKUAST-Jammu, held under the chairmanship of Vice-Chancellor Prof Pardeep Kumar Sharma on last Wednesday, notifications issued with respect to appointments shall be instantly withdrawn till the proper procedure of appointment /promotion as contained in new UGC regulation is adopted and suitable API Score card is applied for evaluation of the candidates for direct recruitment for different positions in the university.
Alleging that both the reasons listed for cancellation of the notifications are flimsy and the decision has been taken only to continue the incumbent Incharge Registrar, who had also applied for the same position on regular basis and was rejected in the scrutiny, SKUAST-Jammu teaching and non-teaching employees have approached the Vice-Chancellor P K Sharma and explained to him the alleged game plan behind the conspiracy to withdraw notifications.
In a memorandum, submitted to the Vice-Chancellor by Joint Action Committee of Teaching Association and Non-Teaching Employees Association of SKUAST-Jammu, it has been impressed upon that the Notification No.14 ( Secy) of 2018 dated 27.06.2018 for recruitment of different teaching positions in the University should not be withdrawn as UGC has given a grace period of six months for implementing the new regulations of gazette notification dated 18.07.2018 while the API score required for direct recruitment to various teaching positions in SKUAST-J is also very much approved in BOM last year and then adopted by the University.
In support of their argument for not to withdraw the recruitment notifications, the JAC also gave the reference of UGC letter number F9-16/2014 (CPP-I/PU), dated 27-05-2017, according to which filling of all the vacant faculty positions is very essential for the inclusion of SKUAST Jammu under Section 12(B) of the UGC Act, 1956.
Launching a direct attack on the incumbent Incharge Registrar, the JAC of Teaching and Non-Teaching Associations has alleged that the said officer tried to influence the screening process and planned for withdrawal of all appointment notifications only after getting the information regarding rejection of his own candidature by the screening committee for the post of Registrar so that he may continue his temporary position of Incharge Registrar. “How could the incumbent I/c Registrar continue to hold the position and make correspondence with experts who were invited to scrutinize the applications when he himself was an applicant for the said post?” the JAC asked the Vice-Chancellor to clarify. Further, the JAC added, the incumbent can not hold this position as he has already crossed the age of 60 years, which is retirement age of Registrar.
Giving a reference of the House Committee, constituted to look into the large-scale bungling in the Mega Seed Unit at SKUAST-Jammu, when the incumbent I/c Registrar was at the helm of affairs of the said Seed Plant, the JAC has registered its reservations over continuing such a tainted person on most responsible administrative chair in the university for the last two and half years.
“The Registrar has been misleading the Competent Authority about the UGC Regulations and playing with the fact for perpetuating ad-hocism,” the JAC said claiming that Statutory Officers present in August 1 meeting, have denied passing any resolution for withdrawal of appointment notifications.
As the Vice-Chancellor has not given up his mind over the series of allegations against the Incharge Registrar, sources said that teaching as well as non-teaching employees have geared up for a major face off with the university administration.
The Vice-Chancellor could not be contacted for his comments on the development as he did not respond to the phone call on his mobile number.
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