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| Is JU a territory to be won? | | | Prof Nirmal Gupta
As one of the senior most members of the faculty of the University of Jammu and a candidate for the post of VC of the University I have been extremely surprised at the way the Search Committee headed by Dr Chaddha has gone about its business.
I have watched this University since its creation first as a student and then as a teacher and I have been amazed at the way the University of Jammu is now known nationally and internationally. The Padamshree that Professor Mattoo received was a recognition of the jump in the University's standards.
However, I fear now along with members of the faculty of the University that from being the pride of Jammu and Kashmir, the University of Jammu will become being a dumping ground for academics from regional universities whoe profile is much lower.
I have failed to understand the method used by the search committee set up to shortlist a panel of candidates for Vice Chancellorship to be presented to the Governor who is the ex officio Chancellor of the University.
Although the committee was set up at the request of Prof Mattoo himself, several months ago, it seems that Dr Chaddha and his team prepared the list only yesterday at the last moment.
When Dr Chaddha interacted with the members of the JU teaching community to see what type of VC the University needed, the faculty members told him clearly, that the need of the hour was consolidation the massive advances made during Prof Mattoo's tenure.
I am told that the faculty members also told Dr Chaddha that the profile of the University of Jammu today was much higher than any University in North India (except of course JNU and the University of
Delhi.) I am also told that Dr Chaddha did not like this observation and tried to steer away the debate away.
My colleagues also stated clearly that the next VC should be one whose record should be was as good as Prof. Mattoo's, failing which an academic with administrative experience, knowledge of ground realities and capable of guiding the University should be chosen.
It is reported, that the panel has shortlisted names of some persons who had to submit to the humiliating exercise of an interview. I wish to ask is this how prospective candidates for the JU VC-ship are to be treated? Is this a common practice for other universities? If not, why has Jammu been insulted?
On what basis was the shortlisting done? On what basis were people called for the interview? Nothing is known and nothing has been revealed.
More disturbing is the news that the Search Committee itself may be illegally constituted. This University Calendar is clear- no person connected with the University may be a member of the Search committee. I am informed that the current status of Dr S.S. Bloeria as advisor to the Governor (when the state is under the Governor's Rule) makes him an ex officio member of the University Council.
Dear friends, I now feel the unusual methods and legality in the conduct and constitution of the Search Committee has now led to the situation where the University's future looks compromised.
I (and several of my collegue) feel that this is because the
University of Jammu is now merely a territory to be won as some people seek to expand their empire by placing their followers "on the throne." The University's future does not bother the powers that be.
I fear that Jammu has once more been taken for granted.
Author teaches at Jammu University’s Department of Economics. Views expressed are exclusively his own. Feedback at [email protected] |
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