Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 11: Accusing the Government of lackadaisical approach even with regard to institutes of higher learning, JKNPP chairman and former minister Harshdev Singh regretted the non- initiation of any action to provide chancellors to the Universities operational in the UT of J&K.
Singh pointed out that the Universities Act provides that the State Governor shall head the Universities as Chancellor and shall Chair the meetings of University Councils. “But with the creation of UT for J&K, the state ceased to exist and gone with it was post of Governor. The Govt should have amended the Universities Act through the State Re-organization Act itself so as to replace the term “Governor” with “Lt Governor”, which it omitted to do. As a consequence all the nine Universities of the UT have been rendered headless thereby, adversely impacting the normal functioning of these premier higher education institutes of the erstwhile state.
Singh said the policy matters, including promotions, academics, research besides other major decisions are taken by the University Council under the Chairmanship of Chancellor. The mandate of Vice Chancellors is limited with respect to major decisions which are subject to the approval of the Chancellor. And non- provision of Chancellors in the Universities, after the dissolution of state, has created severe difficulties in the transaction of normal business in such institutes.
“The most distressing aspect of the matter is that the Govt has not even initiated any action in the matter which reveals its utter lack of concern for significant issues like education”, Singh regretted.
NPP leader pointed out that not only did the Govt falter in addressing the issue during the enactment of Re-organization Act but subsequently, also as the winter session of Parliament too, passed without amending the Universities Act. He said that the nine Universities of the erstwhile state which continue to suffer due to the apathetic approach of the Govt include Jammu University, Kashmir University, Cluster University Jammu, Cluster University Kashmir, SMVDU, (Kala) SKUAST (K), SKUAST (J), BGSBU (Rajouri) and IUST.
Seeking personal indulgence of the President of India, Singh sought immediate action in the matter so as to provide Chancellors to all the nine headless institutes of higher learning in the UT of J&K without any further delay.
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