JU violates ‘one man, one post’ rule

Tribune News Service

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Jammu, July 9

In sheer violation of the directives of the University Council’s directives, the University of Jammu (JU) administration has resorted to “promoting and adjusting its blue-eyed persons” on prized positions, leaving the “deserving” officials and professors fuming.

From the allotment of the “cadre positions to non-cadre” persons to breaking the “one man, one post” rule with impunity, the authorities continue to adjust their “favourites” and “inexperienced” persons on significant posts on the grounds that “such adjustments had been made in the interest of the administration”.

To begin with, special secretary to Vice Chancellor (VC), Neeraj Sharma, continues to hold the important position notwithstanding the fact that the University Council had directed for the removal of Sharma from the post way back in 2012.

“In 2012, the University Council, apex body of the varsity, had also asked for an inquiry into the promotion of Neeraj Sharma from the post of Assistant Registrar (AR) to Deputy Registrar within a period of three years. The Council had also demoted his position,” a source said.

“The higher education department was directed to hold a probe into his promotion as Deputy Registrar within three years after his appointment as the AR and consideration of his four years’ experience in a private company for his promotion, but the department sought a report from the university authorities which clandestinely gave clearance to his promotion,” the source said, adding “Sharma went to the court and got a stay against the University Council decision of his demotion for pay protection.”

Apart from the post of special secretary to the V-C, Sharma is currently also holding the charge of important Teaching and Non-Teaching (Establishment) Wings. He was even recently given the charge of Finance (RUSA), but the varsity was forced to take away the charge from him following sharp criticism.

“An irony of sorts is that Sharma was made legal officer of the university at the time of previous VC Professor RD Sharma. The legal officer was supposed to pursue all litigations in the court of law and he did not allow the university system to pursue his case in the court,” the source added.

Furthermore, the recent adjustment of Guneet Singh Sudan, assistant director, Centre for IT Enabled Services and Management (non-cadre and isolated category) post as in-charge services (a cadre post) also raised many eyebrows in the university.

“The IT Department of the university is in a complete disarray, but the authorities, instead of utilising the services of Sudan in his parent department, preferred to adjust him against a cadre post for reasons best known to them,” the source said.

Thirdly, the appointment of recently promoted AR (Budget and Finance) Anil Koul as AR (RUSA) has also come under scanner. “For the implementation of Rs 100-crore project on the campus, there was a need of having an experienced person at the helm of affairs. Koul, promoted as AR on May 1, 2019, appointment has created many doubts in the mind of people,” source said.

Similarly, several professors are openly violating “one man one post” rule with impunity. Professor Jasbir Singh, Dean Students Welfare (DSW) also holds the charge of Director, Centre for Study of Social Exclusion, Prof Kulwant Singh, Controller of Examination, is holding the head of the law department. Daud lqbal Baba, coordinators all Campus JU, has been given additional charge of Chairman, Campus Sports Committee and Director Sports and Physical Education.

Professor Meenakshi Kilam, Registrar JU, however, denied any “favouritism” on the campus and claimed that the university had been fighting in the court of law against the case filed by its special secretary. She preferred not to take more queries related to the adjustment of some “blue-eyed” persons in the university.

Professor Manoj K Dhar, VC, JU, was unavailable for comments.