Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 27: The Jammu University Teachers Association (JUTA) has expressed deep sense of disappointment and dismay on the manner in which J&K Public University Bill-2022 has been proposed and passed by the Administrative Council without bringing it in the public domain and without taking the stake holders into confidence.
In a meeting held today, the office bearers of JUTA undertook nuanced discussions on the Bill-2022 and described the Government move as a blow to the very concept of the University Autonomy both in administrative and academic terms as many of the provisions of the bill are retrogressive in nature and are against the academic freedom of the University.
The JUTA has taken a strong note of the selection procedure for the Teachers as suggested in the bill which has completely relegated the University administration. “As such the minimum eligibility for the selection of the Assistant Professors in the Universities is National Eligibility Test (NET) or Ph D, however in this bill a separate screening test has been proposed to be conducted by the J & K Public Service Commission. The University Grant Commission (UGC) which is a regulatory body for all the Universities of India, already has a well defined criteria and procedures for the selection of all the teaching and administrative positions, then why separate criteria has been proposed in this bill,” observed JUTA, adding that proposed screening test for the Associate Professors is a disaster.
Out-rightly rejecting provisions of the Bill regarding eligibility, manner of appointment etc to different positions in the university, JUTA said that universities are autonomous bodies and their teachers are not Government servants and hence it will be a terrible loss to nation’s public and intellectual life if the University teachers are brought within the definition of “Public Servants” under the section 21 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 as proposed in the bill.
Further, JUTA has also rejected the proposed inter-university transfer for the University Teachers who devote much of their time for research apart from class room teaching. The research culture of the universities will get collapsed totally if such policies are adopted, opined JUTA members, adding that many other provisions like nomination of the Registrar on deputation from the Government, dilution of the University governing bodies are a clear-cut indication of the direct Government intervention in functioning of the Universities of the State.
JUTA demanded immediate withdrawal of this Bill and replace it with a more progressive and future looking Bill after thorough deliberation and discussion amongst the stakeholders.
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