Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Nov 26: A group of senior Professors at the University of Kashmir has raised serious concerns regarding recruitment practice under the tenure of Vice Chancellor Prof Neelofer Khan, who is set to retire in January next year.
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The faculty members have written to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, urging his immediate intervention to address what they describe as “unethical” and “hasty” recruitment procedures.
The issue centers around a notice issued by the Deputy Registrar on November 18, 2024, which scheduled interviews for faculty positions in the Geography and Commerce departments just two days later, leaving candidates with insufficient time to prepare.
Further complicating the situation, the faculty members alleged that Prof. Khan is pushing through these appointments in the final months of her tenure despite norms advising against major administrative decisions, such as recruitment, close to retirement.
“It has come to our knowledge that, with just two months remaining in her tenure, Prof. Khan, in collaboration with a few favored individuals, has hastily scheduled interviews for fresh faculty appointments under suspicious circumstances,” the letter read.
These actions, the letter stated, have raised suspicions of favoritism and questioned the transparency of the process.
“This abrupt scheduling has left candidates unprepared and raised legitimate concerns about the fairness of the process. It is widely accepted that candidates should be given at least 7-10 days’ notice to prepare, secure permissions, and arrange travel, particularly for in-service candidates.”
In addition to the fresh recruitment process, the letter also highlights the pending promotions of senior faculty members under the Career Advancement Scheme (CAS), which have been delayed for years.
While new recruitments are being prioritized, the CAS promotions remain stalled, causing frustration among eligible faculty members, the letter stated.
“CAS promotions are governed by distinct UGC norms and are not bound by the same restrictions. However, these promotions have been indefinitely delayed, causing widespread frustration among deserving faculty members,” the letter noted.
The letter, signed by prominent faculty members including Dr. Farooq Ahmad, Prof Shah, Prof S Qadri, Dr Nazir Ahmad, Dr Manzoor Ahmad and other senior faculty members, called for an immediate halt to all recruitment processes until a new Vice Chancellor is appointed.
They also urged the resumption of CAS promotions and an inquiry into the alleged mismanagement and favoritism in recent administrative decisions.
The signatories stressed that these practices risk tarnishing the reputation of the University of Kashmir, a prestigious institution that has long been a cornerstone of higher education in the region.
The academics have appealed to the Chief Minister to take swift action to safeguard the university’s integrity and prevent long-term damage to its academic standing.
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