Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, Oct 16: Uncertainty looms large over the fate of highly significant Human Genetic Research cum Counseling Centre in Jammu University as the internal politics and callous attitude of the persons at the helm of affairs has led to controversies and consequent stoppage of financial support by the funding agency.
For further survival of the project, Science and Technology Department of J&K Government, has refused to provide more financial assistance while the Jammu University is allegedly shirking from its responsibility of taking over the Centre fully on its own resources notwithstanding a written commitment in this regard.
Amidst allegations and counter-allegations, the Jammu University has ordered academic and financial audit of the Centre besides disengagement of the contractual staff, including JRF.
Pertinent to mention here that research in the field of Human Genetics, both at the conventional and molecular level, is an area that has developed very fast due to its increasing demand. Diagnosing the Genetic cause of Human congenital anomalies, detecting the carriers for mutant alleles in a population, helping the affected families by counseling and rehabilitation of the affected individuals are the main objectives of this Human Genetic Research cum Counselling Centers. This is the only research centre on Human Genetics in entire Northern Region.
The Centre was initially set up in 1998 at Government Medical College Jammu by the J&K state Council for Science and Technology, Department of S&T, J&K Government, in collaboration with Jammu University.
In the year 2006, the State Council for Science and Technology, vide order No 37-ST of 2006 dated 22/ 11/ 2006, upgraded the existing Human Genetic Research cum Counselling Centre to Advance Human Genetic Research cum Counselling Centre at Jammu University at a total cost of Rs 6.58 crores in three phases as the JU commitment for providing land, free of cost, for the construction of building of this advance Centre was already given by then Vice-Chancellor Prof Amitabh Mattoo as per the letter issued by his office, bearing No. PS/VC/04/163 dated: 09-03-2004.
Vide the same Govt Order No. 37 of ST 2006 dated 22/11/2006, the committee for functioning of the Centre was reconstituted with JU Vice-Chancellor as Chief Coordinator, Principal GMC Jammu as Vice-Chief coordinator, Prof Subash Gupta of the Department of Zoology, JU, as Centre Coordinator/Principal Investigator-I, Dr T R Raina of GMC Jammu as Principal Investigator-II and a fellow specialized in Human Genetics for associating with the project as Co-Investigator.
As per condition number 5 of the order, the Jammu University shall have to take over the Centre fully on its own resources once the State and central assistance ceases under the project. Total funding of Rs 6.58 crores to the project was to be released in three phases; Rs 219 crores each in Phase-I as well as Phase II and Rs 220 crores in third and final phase. The S&T Council also released an advance of Rs 25 Lacs at the disposal of Registrar JU for taking up of the identified activities of Phase-I during the financial year 2006-07.
The Centre did work satisfactorily as per norms and objectives laid down in the agreement while the Department of Science and Technology also kept releasing the funds in phased manner, till the superannuation of Prof Subash Gupta on March 31, 2011. Despite condition number 12 in order No 37-ST of 2006, according to which Principal Investigators of the Centre shall work on contract basis after their superannuation from the active service, Prof Subash Gupta was not allowed to continue after his retirement allegedly because of internal politics in the university.
On the other hand, appointment of Prof N K Tripathi as Centre Coordinator in place of Prof Subash Gupta on the later’s superannuation was challenged by the Department of Science and Technology, J&K. ” The appointment of Prof Narinder Kumar Tripathi is not covered in terms of S&T Council project guidelines as such has to be replaced with a suitable incumbent as Centre Coordinator,” said the letter No ST/C/2011/ 833/4051, dated 11-08-2011, written by M K Dwivedi, then Secretary Science & Technology, J&K Government. Further, Science and Technology Department also raised objections over the variations in amount of expenditures for the advance amount of Rs 70 lacs and asked the university to furnish corrected Utilization Certificates besides monthly physical progress report.
However, the persons at the helm of affairs that time allegedly did not take corrective measures and the things started turning from bad to worse as the successive Centre Coordinators failed to pursue with Science & Technology Department, pending issues like creation of posts for permanent staff and funds from the Government under Plan for long survival of the Centre.
The internal politics also led to resignation of Dr Subash Bhardwaj of Government Medical College Jammu, who was working as Principal Investigator II in the Centre for Human Genetics since May 2014. In his resignation letter, No Path/15/810, dated 13-08-2015, Dr Bhardwaj says that “due to negative attitude of some individuals working in the parent Department in the University of Jammu, I am finding it difficult to carry on with the working in the HGRCC.”
Besides the resignation of Dr Bhardwaj, the Centre was hit with another fresh controversy over wrong adjustment of accounts and submission of incomplete Utilization Certificates on account of Rs 70 lacs, advanced to JU, vide cheque number 224775, dated 10-01-2013. In its letter to JU; No ST/C/Act/2009/Part File/ 1407-11, dated 10-8-2015, the Science and Technology Department, J&K Government, raised a number of objections over the furnished UC and refused to accept the same. S&T Department also made it clear that funds of 3rd and final phase had already been released and the Jammu University should take over the Centre fully on its own resources as per the commitment.
Awakened over this latest communication from the funding agency, the Jammu University swung into action, though late, and constituted a Committee of Deans that suggested academic and financial audit of the Human Genetic Centre besides disengagement of the contractual staff there thus inviting another spell of controversies.
When contacted, JU Vice-Chancellor Prof R D Sharma said that the university was examining the issue of Human Genetics Centre and would take it up with the Department of Science and Technology, J&K, to sort out objections and get the Centre revived. “To streamline the affairs, JU has recently appointed Prof Manoj Dhar as the Centre Coordinator as well as the Principal Coordinator to look after the research component while Prof Rooopma Gandotra shall function as Coordinator of the PG Programme (M Sc Human Genetics),” he said.
Regarding long term survival of the Centre, the VC added that a detailed proposal would be submitted to the Government for funds under Plan and till the allocation is made, JU has no option other than to disengage contractual staff and curtail expenditures of the Centre.
According to Dr Mushtaq Ahmad Bhat, Incharge Science and Technology Council, Department of S&T, J&K Government, way out can be evolved for long term survival of Human Genetic Centre provided Jammu University adopts a serious approach and appoints a full time Principal Coordinator, who could devote time for its functioning. “An adhoc approach is unlikely to yield any result,” he added
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