Posts were re-advertised after quashing earlier panels of candidates
Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, Oct 15: After an unprecedented delay, Cluster University of Jammu and Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University (BGSBU) Rajouri have finally got new Vice-Chancellors.
According to separate orders, issued in this regard by the Lt Governor’s Secretariat, Prof K S Chandrasekar, Senior Professor, Institute of Management in Kerala, University of Kerala, has been appointed as the Vice-Chancellor of Cluster University of Jammu while Prof Jawaid Iqbal, Professor, Department of West Asian and North African Studies, Aligarh Muslim University, is the new Vice-Chancellor of BGSBU, Rajouri.
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Lt Governor Manoj Sinha, who is also Chancellor of both the universities, has ordered appointment of the new Vice-Chancellors for a period of three years, with effect from the date on which they take over charge.
Pertinent to mention that tenure of incumbent Vice-Chancellor of Cluster University Jammu, Prof Bechan Lal and BGSBU VC, Prof Akbar Masood had expired on January 24, 2024 and February 12, 2024, respectively. However, they were continuing the office of Vice-Chancellor even after attaining the age of 65 years, in alleged contravention to the university guidelines.
Even as the search committees were timely formed, the advertisement for the appointment of new Vice-Chancellor in both the cases, were issued afresh two months after panels of candidates for the post of VC in the Cluster University and BGSBU were submitted to the Lt Governor.
Appointment of the Vice-Chancellor in Cluster University Jammu and BGSBU is made by the Lt Governor, J&K Union Territory, in exercise of powers vested in him under Section 12(1) of the Srinagar and Jammu Cluster Universities Act, 2016, and clause 2(1) of the Statutes forming the Schedule of the Jammu and Kashmir Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University Act, 2002, respectively.
Dr K S Chandrasekar has more than 28 years of teaching, research and consulting experience in the field of Management studies. He is Ph D in Management from Alagappa University, Karaikudi (2001). He joined IMK, University of Kerala in 2002 and since then, occupied various positions including that of Acting Vice Chancellor, Registrar, Dean of Faculty of Management Studies, Chairman-BOS in Business Management for Pass and PG, Campus Director, School of Business Management and Legal Studies Director and HoD of IMK. Sixty four scholars completed Ph D in Management under his guidance with two of them completing Post Doctoral Fellow.
Dr Jawaid Iqbal, Professor, Department of West Asian and North African Studies, Aligarh Muslim University, is an expert in the field of International Relations. He has held prominent academic and administrative roles, including Acting Vice-Chancellor, Dean of the Faculty of International Studies, and Chairmanship of several departments, such as the Department of West Asian and North African Studies, Department of South African and Brazilian Studies, and the Department of Foreign Languages at AMU, Aligarh. His involvement in shaping university policies is notable, as he has been a member of influential decision-making bodies like the AMU Court, Executive Council, and Academic Council. Furthermore, he has served on various Boards of Studies, Committees, and Advisory Boards within the institution.
With a strong academic background, holding a PhD and M Phil in International Studies from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Dr Iqbal boasts over 31 years of teaching experience. He has successfully supervised over 20 post-doctoral and doctoral students, specializing in International Relations, Conflict Resolution, and Peace Studies.