BJP MLA alleges victimization by VCs
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 19: Minister for Higher Education, Sakina Itoo, today informed the Assembly that the age of superannuation in respect of University Professors is being extended by a Review Committee under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary.
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The Minister was replying to a question raised by BJP MLA Dr Narinder Singh Raina in the Legislative Assembly.
She informed that the Committee also comprises Vice-Chancellor of the concerned University and Administrative Secretary, Higher Education Department, J&K. The Committee may co-opt a member from the Finance/ Law Department and Special Secretary/ Additional Secretary from the Higher Education Department, she added.
Itoo said that the Review Committee has decided to approve the extension of the eligible superannuating Professors for three years from 62 to 65 years. However, on completion of each year, the concerned Vice Chancellor shall review the performance in each case subject to the minimum benchmark relating to research publications, classroom teaching, academic contribution and overall work and conduct of the concerned in the preceding year. She said that continuation of such Professors shall be subject to attaining such minimum benchmark.
The Minister said that the method has been meticulously structured to prevent any favoritism or a pick and choose approach, thereby, holding the principles of fairness and institutional integrity. She said that it is rule based and each case is scrutinized in light of the laid down parameters including general conduct and behaviour in terms of integrity, thereby reinforcing the credibility of the mechanism, leaving no scope for arbitrary decision-making.
Itoo said that enhancement of superannuation age of University Professors is structured, meticulously designed to ensure that extensions are granted solely on the basis of merit, eligibility criteria and compliance with the established parameters.
The Minister said that the mechanism is not intended to foster a culture of sycophancy but rather to uphold the highest academic and ethical standards in the selection process.
She said that UT of J&K has implemented the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020 in letter and spirit.
Raising the supplementaries, Dr Narinder Singh, cautioned about victimization and exploitation on age issue in Universities in the J&K Legislative Assembly, correcting the flaw by the removal of chosen age relaxation and fixing the uniform age under static rule.
Dr. Narinder Singh stressed that the subject-matter of age fixation is the state subject. He said that the Pay commission takes relaxation in the matter of age for employees that every State has the liberty to decide the issue on its own.
He cited the example of different retirement ages in various Universities in Jammu & Kashmir.
The BJP MLA said that the conditional age increase from 62 to 65 years suggests biasness. He said that it should be directly fixed to 65 years. He said that the Vice-Chancellors do the victimization, adding that although the committee is framed, the case is represented by the Vice-Chancellor only.
Dr. Singh said that certain University employees having good profiles were not given age relaxation but the others were considered. He also said that certain persons who were given extension for the teaching posts are being given the secretarial posts doing injustice with the rightful person and also with the teaching post which suffers due to the biased decision.
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