news details |
|
|
| JU Council sets up 3-member panel to review Prof Hari Om’s work | | Attack on academic autonomy | |
ET EXCLUSIVE
JAMMU, Apr 11: The Jammu University Council, the highest decision-making body of the university, has started interfering in the academic freedom of the teaching fraternity. The interference is “brazen”. So much so, the University Council in its last meeting held in Jammu under the chairmanship of State Governor N N Vohra has, according to surces, taken an extraordinary step by instituting a three-member panel to review the work done by various academicians, who are holding prestigious chairs in the Universities of Jammu and Kashmir. Islamic Technical University controversial Vice-Chancellor, Kashmir, Sidiq Wahid, is head of this panel. He was one the three election commissioners appointed by the Hurriyat Conference.
Very authentic sources have told the Early Times that though the University Council has set up this panel to review the work done by those holding various chairs in the Universities of Jammu and Kashmir, the real target is Prof Hari Om of the University of Jammu. Sources told that one of the top-ranking members of the University council was not happy with his role during the agitation in Jammu over the issue of Amarnath land and his new book “Jammu and Kashmir: Conflicting Perceptions”, which he wrote in his official capacity as Chair Professor, Maharaja Gulab Singh Chair.
The Early Times have been told by the reliable sources that the University Council set up the Wahid panel at the behest of the one who had been asking the university authorities to provide information after information on the circumstances under which Prof Hari Om was offered the Gulab Singh Chair and service conditions and the circumstances under which he wrote the above referred to book on the Amarnath land row.
The appointment of the Sidiq Wahid panel has caused resentment in the teaching fraternity of the Jammu University. A number of senior dons in the campus have told the Early Times on condition of anonymity that they are not happy with the University Council decision. They have lamented with anger that such an attitude on the part of the University Council would erode not only the autonomy of the university, but would also prevent teachers of the university from expressing their well-considered views on issues facing the state and the country. They are of the view that “no one should interfere in the academic freedom of teachers” and that “what the University Council has done is a deliberate attack on it and the university autonomy” and “this is not acceptable”.
The Early Times also tried its best to contact Prof Hari Om and to know his version, but he was not available for comments.
The most significant aspect is that Sidiq Wahid had served under Prof Hari Om for several months as Chair Professor, Maharaja Gulab Singh Chair. His relations with Prof Hari Om, who was then Head of the History Department and Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, were not cordial. The reason was that the university authorities were not releasing his salary because Prof Hari Om had been refusing to give a certificate to the effect that Sidiq Wahid remained present in the university during the period for which he was claiming his salary.
Prof Hari Om was not issuing the required certificate because Sidiq Wahid was visiting different countries, including Pakistan, without informing him and without seeking prior approval of the relevant authorities in the university. The Early Times has already revealed that the University authorities released the salary of Sidiq Wahid only after “one of the officials” (Prof Hari Om) relinquished his office of headship before completing his full term.
It appears that the University of Jammu has become victim of those who want to settle personal scores and wish the university teachers that they should write only what certain authorities want them to write. This is a sad reflection on the University Council. Those with controversial background and credentials are being rewarded and those with national and secular outlook are being harassed and victimized. The appointment Sidiq Wahid as head of the inquiry panel is an indication that there are persons in the University Council who want to procure a report that could be used against Prof Hari Om.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
