Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 23: Opposing Jammu University move for enhancing retirement age of its Professors, National Secular Forum (NSF) has urged the Governor (Chancellor of the University) to immediately intervene and reject the proposal in this regard.
Addressing a press conference, here today, NSF State president Dr Vikas Sharma alleged that person at the helm of affairs in Jammu University were in hurry for getting retirement age enhanced because the Vice-Chancellor and his favourites were going to retire this year. “The Govt has been busy in tackling unrest in Kashmir Valley but the incumbent VC is exerting undue pressure to get the age of varsity professors enhanced from 62 years to 65 years so that he could also prolong his service in varsity, which is otherwise nearing completion,” he explained and added that the JU was in so hurry that it did not wait even for formal nod to the proposal by the Chancellor.
In the last meeting of the University Council, held on April 22, 2017, a proposal to further raise the retirement age of the university professors from existing 62 to 65 years was mooted before the Chancellor, who directed that the same be put before the Government for the approval of the State Cabinet. “Even as minutes of the Council meeting are yet to be approved by the Chancellor, the Vice Chancellor, who is attaining age of superannuation in new two months, has submitted the proposal for enhancement of retirement age to the Department of Higher Education without waiting for the Chancellor to approve the minutes of the meeting of the Council,” Vikas claimed.
The NSF leader claimed that enhancement of the retirement age would block employment avenues for highly educated youth, who are feeling frustrated because of unemployment.
“What is the fun of raising age of superannuation of the professors at a time when the younger generation is already deprived of ample opportunities of employment and growth?” he questioned.
Papinder Singh and Anshu Sharma were also present in the press conference.
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