From past to present

Dr J S Dev
His Excellency the Governor of Jammu & Kashmir State promulgated an ordinance on 5th Sept 1969 by virtue of which the erstwhile University of Jammu & Kashmir was bifurcated and two independent Universities viz University of Jammu and University of Kashmir were set up. Subsequently this ordinance was ratified by the State legislature and an Act ‘’The Kashmir & Jammu Universities’’ Act, 1969’’ was passed. This Act received the assent of the Governor on 30th October, 1969.
The University of Jammu started functioning from the Jammu Division of erstwhile University of Jammu & Kashmir located adjacent to GGM Science College. At the time of inception the university had eleven PG teaching departments and an equal number of affiliated degree colleges. Subsequently during every five year plan the University Grants Commission sanctioned a few more PG Department to be added and as of now there are 29 PG Deptts. The number of colleges added till 1990 was quite low. It was after 1990 that a good number of Govt as well as private colleges were affiliated. After the year 2000 a mushroom growth of Private colleges particularly the B.Ed colleges was witnessed. At present more than 200 colleges stand affiliated with the University out of which 74 are private B. Ed Colleges only. The other colleges both Govt and Private affiliated to the University are : 49 degree colleges, 6 medical/Dental & Ayurvedic, 3 Engineering, three oriental, 33 BCA, 24 BBA, 4 MBA, 5 Law, 5 MCA, 3 PGDCM, and 9 PG Colleges etc.
Initially there were two hostels only one for boys and one for girls. Now with the increased number of students the number of Hostels has gone upto seven viz four for boys and three for girls.
Once the university became operational, the search for a suitable piece of land for setting up the new campus started. Two sites one at Nagrota and other at Planra were surveyed but not approved. Then finally a piece of land measuring about 123 acres at Bahu-Wali Rakh on the southern bank of River Tawi opposite to MAM College was approved. The foundation stone for the new university campus was laid by Late. Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah the then Chief Minister of the State. The said foundation stone still stands in the premises of University Guest House.
Out of this 123 acres of land about 16.4 acres of land protruding into the campus is still in the possession of the Army. Though several efforts were made even at the level of Defence Ministry and through Prime Minister of India, yet the said piece of land could not be get vacated from the army. Besides, about 5 acres of land alongside the River Tawi was taken away by the State Govt for the construction of Link Road connecting By Pass Road with the ring road at Gujjar Nagar across the river.
The University Grants Commission, in early seventies sanctioned the Deptt of Youth Welfare with the sole purpose to keep the students busy in extra- curricular activities in order to channelise their energy in a proper manner so that they become good citizens and better human beings. The author of this write up was the first Assistant Registrar appointed through open competition for this department. This department started with a meagre grant of Rs 5000/= only for conducting extra-curricular activities during the year and has now grown in a big department re-named as the Deptt. of Student’s Welfare.
During the year 1976 the Institute of correspondence now known as the Directorate of Distance Education was set up in a hired building at Geeta Bhawan, near Parade ground, Jammu. This Institute was set with the aim to provide a chance to improve qualifications to those who for one reason or the other could not continue their regular studies and particularly to those who belong to far flung areas and were devoid of higher educational facilities. At present more than six thousand students stand enrolled in different courses.
The centres of continuing and Adult education were separately set up in 1978 but were later merged in 1980. Subsequently the Population Education, minority coaching and employment cum information bureau were also brought under the umbrella of Adult & Continuing Education.
Recently the UGC re-named this Centre as the Deptt of Life long learning. This Deptt performs multifarious activities such as skill building income generating courses for villagers, training for unemployed youth for up- scaling knowledge, coaching courses for minority candidates and general awareness courses etc. This Deptt is doing yeoman service to the society.
During the year 1979-80 College Development Council was set up with the purpose to visit all the affiliated colleges atleast twice in a year to assess the developmental needs of the colleges and to ensure maintenance of academic standards. However, with the mushroom growth of private colleges particularly the B.Ed College the CDC remains busy for most of time for making admissions for these colleges. Hence, proper attention could not be focussed on the require agenda.
The University besides having a separate library for each teaching Deptt has a central Library that houses more than three Lakh volumes and remains opened for twelve hours a day throughout the year. It has set up the information and Library Network Laboratory equipped with modern infrastructure, houses the electronic resources Library and regularly inputs records in the National databse being developed by the UGC at Ahmedabad Centre.
The University has also other supporting units as are in a University system.
Prof Mohan Paul Singh Ishar, a product of this university is the Eleventh Vice Chancellor. He took over charge of the office of Vice – Chancellor on 27th January, 2012. The previous ten Vice-Chancellors were : (1) Prof J N Bhan (Sept 1969- Dec 1973) (2) Sh J D Sharma IADS (December 73 to March 78) (3) Prof S C Dubey (March 78 to July 1980) (4) Prof Satya Bhushan (July 80 to May 82) (5) Prof. M R Puri (May 82 to Feb 1986) (6) Prof M L Lakhan Pal (Feb 86-Aug 92) (7) Prof Y R Malhotra (Aug 92 to Dec 96) (8) Prof. R R Sharma (Dec 96 to Nov 2002) (9) Prof Amitabh Mattoo (Nov 2002 to Dec 2008) & Prof. Varun Sawhney (December 2008 to Jan 2012)
Prof. Mohan Paul Singh Ishar is an honest and forwarding looking person. It is therefore, expected that he will bring the university back to rails and excellence restored in the coming year.

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