ET Plus report
Jammu, Mar 10: The decision of recalling of top brass of Board of School Education (BOSE) including its chairman and Secretary, by Ministry for Higher Education has been taken in complete violation of set norms.
Furthermore, if all officials are recalled with immediate effect, the functioning of BOSE will virtually collapse as there will be no one to take important decisions as the crucial annual examination of Plus-2 are underway. Can Ministry for Higher Education play with the careers of thousands of students?
Highly placed sources in the government revealed that "the decision of recalling the top officials sent on deputation and for specific time period in BOSE has also surprised many senior bureaucrats as top politicians including sitting legislators as according to them rules and procedures have not been followed before issuing such an order".
On March 8, Principal Secretary, Higher Education Department, K B Agarwal issued an order that five top officials posted at top positions in BOSE are recalled to their parent department, with
immediate effect. The officials who have been recalled included Principal rank, Sheikh Bashir Ahmad, posted as Chairman, BOSE, Jammu, Principal rank, Renu Goswami, posted as Secretary, BOSE, Jammu,
Principal rank, Javaid Iqbal Khatib, posted as Joint Secretary, BOSE, Jammu, Associate Professor rank of History, Mohammad Kazim Wani, posted as State Editor Gazeetters Unit, J&K, Srinagar Assistant Professor rank of Chemistry, Aijaz Ahmad Kanth posted as Lecturer, Women Polytechnic, Srinagar.
However, reliable sources pointed out that "the officials of Higher Education department failed to adopt the laid procedure".
"The appointments of Chairman, Sheikh Bashir Ahmad and Secretary, Renu Goswami of BOSE have been made through SROs and after proper notification. As per the SRO, chairman's tenure was to be completed in May i.e. after two months, while Renu Goswami was appointed through SRO 326, the notification of which was issued by government on October 5, 2012 that too for period of two years," confirmed highly placed sources and further added, "Besides, the Governing Board which is
considered to be highest decision making body of BOSE, had in its January 31, 2013 meeting (a month back), confirmed the appointment of Renu Goswami as Secretary, BOSE."
Worth to mention here that the then Financial Commissioner, Finance Department and sitting Chief Secretary, Mohammad Iqbal Khandey was one of the Governing Board members who confirmed the appointment of the lady official.
"When appointments are made through formal notification, the government has to issue fresh notification if they want to replace the officials," indicated sources.
"There is a procedure for the appointments of Chairman and Secretary, BOSE. As per the norms, a search committee comprising the officials of the rank of Principal/Commissioner Secretaries, Director School Education is formed by the government. The interesting officials submit their CVs before the committee. The Search Committee after a thorough scrutiny of the documents of the probable candidates forward the shortlisted names for Vigilance clearance," detailed sources
further adding that "After the Vigilance clearance, the names are kept before the government for final decision. The entire process requires at least four to five months and the same cannot be done within days."
Will the concerned Minister for Higher Education, Mohammad Akbar Lone re-consider its decision?
|
