Eyebrows raised on flimsy grounds to withdraw notifications
Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, Aug 4: To carry on adhocism, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST), Jammu, is learnt to have decided 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.
“Notifications issued with respect to appointments shall be instantly withdrawn till the proper procedure of appointment /promotion as contained in new UGC regulation is adopted,” read minutes of the meeting of Statutory Officers of SKUAST-Jammu, held under the chairmanship of Vice-Chancellor Prof Pardeep Kumar Sharma on last Wednesday.
Further, as per minutes of the said meeting, the present API Score in force is basically applicable to evaluation of a teacher to be considered for promotion under Career Advancement Scheme (CAS) and not suitable for direct recruitment for different positions in the university as in direct recruitment, the candidate has to be evaluated as per the requirement of the position.
“Hence for that matter, it was decided that an appropriate committee shall be framed who shall propose and decide the application forms / assessment scorecard based on UGC/ ASRB/ Neighbouring Universities etc,” read copy of minutes of the meeting.
However, sources said that both the reasons listed for cancellation of the advertisement notifications for recruitment are flimsy and the decision to withhold the process has been taken only to continue perpetuating adhocism in SKUAST-Jammu as the person occupying top administrative post on temporary basis, who had also applied for the same position on regular basis, was rejected in the scrutiny, held on July 28.
There is a grace period of six months for implementation of the new regulations of UGC Gazette notification, dated 18-07-2018 for making further promotions/appointments while the required API Score applicable for evaluation of teachers for direct recruitment to different positions in the university, is also very much approved and adopted by the SKUAST -Jammu, sources pointed out.
According to the UGC Gazette notification, every university or institution deemed to be university, as the case may be, shall as soon as may be, but not later than within six months of the coming into force of these Regulations, take effective steps for the amendment of the statutes, ordinances or other statutory provisions governing it, so as to bring the same in accordance with these Regulations.
Therefore, sources explained, the SKUAST-Jammu has a grace period till January 18, 2019, to continue with the existing UGC regulations for the appointments, advertisements of which were issued in the month of May and June 2018.
Similarly, sources added, the new API based Score card for direct recruitment of Teachers and others in the SKUAST-Jammu was adopted by the university last year vide notification number 19(Secy) of 2017, dated 30-08-2017 after approval of the same by Board of Management in its 27th meeting, held on February 11, 2017.
Hence, both the reasons listed for deciding to withdraw the advertisement notifications for the recruitment are misleading and concocted to further delay the entire process and benefit the person holding top administrative post in the university on temporary basis, who had also applied for the said position but his application was rejected by the Scrutiny Committee, sources said.
Sources further claimed that majority of the Statutory Officers in the meeting, wherein decision to withdraw the notifications was taken, have not signed minutes of the said meeting for registering their dissent over the controversial resolution.
It may be recalled that the SKUAST-Jammu, vide notification number 09 (Secy) of 2018, dated 29-05-2018 had invited applications for the posts of Registrar, Director Planning and Monitoring, Dean (Basic Sciences) and University Librarian while application for the posts of Professors/Chief Scientists and equivalent (23 positions), Associate Professors/Senior Scientists and equivalent (21 positions), Assistant Professors/Junior Scientists (23 positions) were invited vide notification number 12(Secy) of 2018, dated 27-06-2018.
Despite repeated attempts, Registrar of SKUAST-Jammu, Dr Dileep Kachroo could not be contacted for his comment on the development.
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