Chaos at KU after VC’s extension plea rejected

Rifat Mohidin

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, February 18

Chaos and confusion continues at the University of Kashmir after the rejection of the petition of Prof Khursheed Andrabi, incumbent Vice Chancellor, regarding the extension of his tenure from three to five years.

A university official said for the last four months, the normal functioning of the university was affected as the Vice Chancellor was busy with the court case seeking his extension.

“There is total chaos in the university as it is not clear whether his term will be extended or not. He has not been paying attention to the proper functioning of the university,” an official from the university said.

After his term expired in October last year, Andrabi had approached the court through Zaffar A Shah, senior advocate, pleading that his term as VC was for five years instead of erstwhile three. But the government, on Friday, rejected the petition, saying the case had no legal basis.

A university official said there was also uncertainty over the orders given and decisions made by the outgoing VC in the last four months.

“The VC conducted many interviews in these months and issued many important orders. It is unclear whether those decisions will be followed by the Chancellor. There is uncertainty over those decisions,” the official said.

Prof Andrabi was appointed VC on October 17, 2014, for a period of three years. The government amended the Kashmir and Jammu Universities Act, 1969, in 2015, substituting the words “three” by “five” for the tenure of the Vice Chancellor.

A new academic session is all set to begin at the university from February 26. The official said a senior professor should be made the caretaker till the search committee selected a suitable candidate.

“To end the chaos for now, any senior professor should be made the in charge by the Chancellor. He can also appoint a suitable professor from the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agriculture Science and Technology or the Islamic University of Science and Technology,” said the official.

On September 8 last year, the university Chancellor had ordered constitution of a search committee for the appointment of a new VC.

However, after the petition by the VC, the High Court ordered putting on hold the process of appointment of the new Vice Chancellor.