Govt appoints vigilance officer in JU without VC’s knowledge
Tribune News Service
Jammu, December 10
The state government has appointed a vigilance officer of the University of Jammu (JU) without the knowledge of the Vice Chancellor (VC), Prof RD Sharma.
In what could be seen as a direct taking over of the administrative control of the university, the General Administration Department of the state government yesterday issued orders appointing Public Relations Officer (PRO) Imran Farooq as the new vigilance officer replacing Jai Kumar Sharma without seeking recommendations of the university, bypassing the VC.
Jai Kumar Sharma, former Special Secretary to Vice Chancellor, is presently serving as Director, Directorate of College Development Council (CDC). Imran Farooq, who is politically well-connected, is the Public Relations Officer (PRO) in the Vice Chancellor’s secretariat.
“In partial modification of the government order number 8-GAD (Vig) of 2015 on March 6, 2015, sanction is accorded to the appointment of Imran Farooq, PRO, Jammu University, as Departmental Vigilance Officer in place of Jai Kumar Sharma, the then Special Secretary to Vice Chancellor, now Director CDC,” reads an order of the General Administration Department (GAD) issued late evening yesterday.
No reason has been given for the appointment of Imran Farooq in the order. The VC has feigned ignorance about any such development. “I have no knowledge about any such decision,” the VC said in a one-liner response.
Jai Kumar has been facing allegations of misappropriation of funds in a book purchase scam. It has been alleged that Jai Kumar remained under scanner for purchasing books worth Rs 40,000 for his doctor daughter from the university funds. The university had formed a three-member panel to hold inquiry into these allegations.
The university insiders said, “Under the normal practice, the university makes the recommendation about the appointment of a person for this post, but the government has virtually taken control of the varsity administration and appointed a junior officer on its own. The move could be seen as a deliberate attempt of the government to directly take control of the varsity administration, which amounts to attack on the autonomous character of the institution.”
They said it had become more pronounced from the ongoing activity on the campus during the last three months that there was a direct interference of the government in the functioning of the university.
