Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 9: J&K College Teachers Association (CTA) has termed the Government decision of authorizing all Assistant/Associate Professors of Higher Education Department having Ph D degrees to act as Guides/Co-Guides for M Phil/Ph D. scholars registered in any State/Central University, within or outside the State, as historic while Executive Committees of the Kashmir and Jammu University Teachers Associations (KUTA and JUTA) have voiced their resentment against the same.
In a joint press statement, JUTA and KUTA called for immediate withdrawal of this Government Order bearing No. 77-HE of 2018 dated 08.02.2018, issued by Principal Secretary to Government, Higher Education Department, Govt. of Jammu and Kashmir wherein “all Assistant/Associate Professors of Higher Education Department having Ph.D. degrees have been authorized to act as Guides/Co-Guides for M.Phil./Ph.D. scholars registered in any State/Central University, within or outside the State” besides directing “Vice-Chancellors of CUK/CUJ/JU/KU/CLUS/CLUJ/SMVDU/IUST/BGSBU for immediate compliance”.
Spokesmen of KUTA and JUTA said that this order not only seeks to undermine the autonomous character of the Universities but also undermines the authority and dignity of the office of Vice-Chancellor. Joint statement further reads that “all academic programmes of the Kashmir and Jammu University, including research, are conducted strictly in accordance with established norms and guidelines of the UGC that are implemented under respective statutes through statutory bodies of these universities including University Council, Academic Council, University Syndicate, BORS, DRC etc.
KUTA and JUTA demands immediate revocation of this order in the best interests of academics and research and have called upon all Government officials of the State to desist from issuing such dictatorial orders that circumvent and override the jurisdiction of various statutory bodies of these universities.
However, on the other hand, College Teachers Association, led by its president Prof D S Manhas, has said that this step of the Government will go a long way in alleviating the morale of the teachers and activate research activities in colleges. By accepting this long pending demand of the college teachers the Government has shown a way forward for those college teachers who want to pursue research in colleges, the Association said.
CTA had taken up the demand of college teachers being allowed to act as Guide/Co-Guides various times with the Minister of Higher Education and Principal Secretary, Higher Education Department.
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