*124 posts can’t be filled till appointment of heads
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Nov 28: Sanctioned by the Union Human Resource Development Ministry about two years back, the Jammu and Kashmir Government is still soft-paddling on making two Cluster Universities functional as neither Vice Chancellors have been appointed nor the Statutes prepared till date despite the fact that these are the basic steps for making the institutions operational.
Two Cluster Universities—one each for Jammu and Srinagar were sanctioned by the Union Ministry of Human Resource and Development during the financial year 2014-15 under Centrally Sponsored Scheme namely Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) for addressing the critical gaps in the spatial distribution of higher educational institutions across the State.
The aim behind sanctioning of Cluster Universities was to provide opportunity to more and more students to pursue various post-graduate, under-graduate and diploma courses in different streams and subjects through regular mode.
Since establishment of these Cluster Universities required either amendment in the Jammu and Kashmir Universities Act or enactment of new legislation, the Higher Education Department placed a formal memorandum before the State Cabinet on December 2, 2015 and after deliberations the highest decision making body accorded approval to the introduction of Kashmir and Jammu Cluster Universities Bill in the State Legislature for making the Cluster Universities functional.
However, the Bill was tabled in the State Legislature in the month of June this year as during the period between December 2015 and June 2016 no session of Legislature could be convened. At the time of passage of Bill by Legislative Assembly and Council it was stated by the Government that every formality would be completed as expeditiously as possible so as to make the Varsities functional to achieve the objective behind their sanctioning by the HRD Ministry.
“But, the dilly-dallying approach on almost all the vital aspects is persisting even five months after the nod of the State Legislature”, official sources told EXCELSIOR while disclosing that neither Vice-Chancellors of these Varsities have been appointed till date nor the Statutes prepared despite the fact that further steps towards making the institutions functional cannot be initiated in the absence of decisions on these two vital aspects.
As per the Cluster Universities Act, the appointment of Vice-Chancellor is to be made by the Chancellor, who happens to the Chief Minister, in consultation with Pro-Chancellor (Minister Incharge for Higher Education of the State) from amongst the persons whose names are submitted to the Chancellor by a committee constituted in accordance with the provisions of the Act.
“However, the appointment of Vice-Chancellors of the Cluster Universities has not been deliberated upon in the right forum till date”, sources said while expressing inability to specify any time frame for making appointments not only of Vice-Chancellors but also of Registrars and Controllers of Examinations.
Pointing towards the provisions of the Act, sources said, “unless the Vice-Chancellors are appointed by the Government, no step can be initiated for filling up 124 posts created for Cluster Universities by the Government in the month of September this year as Act states that Vice-Chancellor shall have the powers to make appointments of the ministerial, technical and other staff”.
“Though the Department of Higher Education has initiated the process to prepare draft of the Statutes but the officers are not in a position to specify any time-frame for completion of this exercise”, sources said, adding “again these statutes are to be passed by the University Council which cannot be constituted in the absence of Vice-Chancellor”.
“All this indicates that even the basic but important steps for making the Cluster Universities functional have not been initiated by the Government till date”, sources remarked, adding “there should not be any further delay in appointment of Vice-Chancellors as they can play important role in completion of formalities like finalization of statutes and supervise the infrastructure creation”.
When contacted, Minister for Education, Naeem Akhtar confirmed that no decision has so far been taken vis-à-vis appointment of Vice-Chancellors for the Cluster Universities, adding “hopefully the Government will make these appointments well in time”.
“The draft of the statutes has almost been finalized and will be placed before the Chief Minister, who is Chancellor of Cluster Universities”, he said, adding “as far as infrastructure is concerned, the construction activities are apace in Jammu but in Srinagar the same have resumed after remaining suspended for four months due to unrest”.
Stating that Government was planning to make these Cluster Universities functional from next academic session, the Education Minister said, “even if the new infrastructure is not available by that time, we will make use of existing infrastructure in the Colleges for starting the session”.
It is pertinent to mention here that Cluster Universities are being created by pooling the resources of five existing colleges that have adequate academic, physical and technical infrastructure facilities and would eventually become constituent colleges of the Cluster Universities.
The Cluster University in Jammu will comprise of GGM Science College, Government MAM College, SPMR College of Commerce, Government College for Women, Gandhi Nagar and Government College of Education, Jammu.
Similarly, the Cluster University in Srinagar will comprise of Amar Singh College, Sri Pratap College, Government Degree College Bemina, Government College for Women, MA Road and Government College of Education, Srinagar.
Following establishment of these Cluster Universities, the existing State Universities will also be benefited by reduction in responsibilities of managing admissions and examination of students enrolled in these colleges. The manifold increase in intake capacity will enhance the Gross Enrolment Ratio in higher education.
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