Suhail Bhat
SRINAGAR, Feb 13: Several key administrative positions remained vacant at Kashmir University, hindering its growth and academic progress, as many are temporarily managed through additional charges or in-charge appointments, raising concerns among faculty and stakeholders.
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An official privy to the matter told Excelsior that the prolonged delay in filling up these posts is affecting academic matters, as the absence of designated heads has forced the university to delegate responsibilities to staff members who are not subject-matter experts.
Recently, the Consortium for Educational Communication (CEC) urged KU to “urgently” initiate the recruitment process for the post of Director of the Educational Multimedia Research Centre (EMMRC), which is currently held by a person from a sociology background.
“The post of Director of Physical Education has been vacant for a year, while the Director of South Campus has been assigned as an additional charge to a professor from the Physics Department, leaving the position unfilled for two years,” the official said.
Similarly, the Director of Kupwara Campus has been given as an additional charge to the Registrar, and the Director of Zakura Campus to the Head of the Electronics Department.
The official further said that the position of Director of IT & SS lacked a full-time appointment for 12 years and is currently being handled by Scientist D. The Director of Lifelong Learning post is also vacant and has been assigned to the Head of the Social Welfare Department. The post of Director of the Convocation Complex is unfilled for eight years, with the charge given to the Joint Registrar of Development.
The Directorate of Internal Quality Assurance (DIQA) is also affected, with both the Director and Deputy Director positions vacant and being managed by in-charge appointees. Additionally, two Assistant Director Posts at DIQA have been unfilled for a decade.
Other key vacancies include three Deputy Registrar posts and seven Assistant Registrar positions. The Public Relations Officer (PRO) post for KU and the Convocation Complex also remained unfilled, with the department being handled by a liaison officer under the supervision of a media advisor from a linguistic background. The position of Additional Controller of Examination is also vacant.
Faculty members and university stakeholders voiced concerns that assigning additional responsibilities to senior professors impacts academic and research output, ultimately affecting the university’s overall development. “It is bad for the students and overall progress of the Valley’s premier education institution,” a senior professor said.
Vice Chancellor of Kashmir University, Neelofar Khan, told Excelsior that efforts are underway to fill all vacant positions, both teaching and non-teaching. “All the vacant positions will be filled step by step,” she said.
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