Wakf Board terms appointments made by former VC illegal

Adil Lateef
SRINAGAR, July 26: Jammu and Kashmir Wakf Board has declared the appointments of clinical instructors and lecturers at Bibi Halima College of Nursing and Medical Technology made by the former Vice Chairman as illegal and “verbally” terminated them.
On April 4, 2014, the Wakf Board, which runs the affairs of Bibi Halima College, issued an advertisement notification (MWB/Adm/040-42) for the posts of Associate Professor/ Reader, Lecturer and Clinical Instructors. Their interviews were conducted on December 18 last year.
As per the order issued on March 11 this year, seven clinical instructors were selected by VC, Mohammad Yaseen Qadri, on the recommendations of Bibi Halima College Selection Committee. Besides, four lecturers were also selected out of whom only two joined. Two Tutors/Clinical Instructors and a lecturer were too selected on contractual basis.
The Wakf authorities early this month verbally told these employees that their appointments are “illegal” as the former VC, and his team was “incompetent and so were there orders”.
The Wakf didn’t release their salaries of 4 months despite the Principal of Bibi Halima College, Tanveera Makhdoomi, sending pay bills to the Central Board.
Out of seven Clinical Instructors, two didn’t join their duties and in view of this, the Secretary of Wakf Board issued an order (MWB/Adm 913-17) on May 28 this year enabling two candidates, Muzamil Qureshie and Asma Rasool, who were in the waiting list, to join the college for the said post.
After Principal of the Bibi Halima College scrutinized and obtained their documents, both of them joined for the period of two years on probation.
The reason cited by Wakf VC for terming the order illegal and invalid, is that the term of former VC, MY Qadri, had expired on February 14 last year. “The then CM had that time asked him to continue as VC Wakf till new one is appointed. But, it was verbal extension. And, in that course the advertisement notifications for these posts were issued and the interviews conducted as well. These are incompetent orders and hence the appointments too are illegal,” the Wakf VC, Peer Hussain told Excelsior.
However, the Wakf Board has released salaries of two lecturers, Anjum Khurshid and Neelofar Jan, who were shortlisted and interviewed by the same body which the incumbent VC is terming “incompetent and illegal.”
When Excelsior asked VC of Wakf Board about these two lecturers, he said: “I don’t know about them. I promise that I will look into the matter on Monday or Tuesday and will also stop their salaries after verification,” he said. And, when asked about waiting list order issued on May 28, he said: “the order was canceled later.” But, contrary to the claims of VC, the candidates selected from waiting list joined the duties as per norms.
The distressed and aggrieved Clinical Instructors said that at the time of interview, the Wakf authorities directed them to sign a bond. “We were told to sign the bond that we won’t work in any other institution except Bibi Halima College,” they said, adding: “and when we joined the duty at the college this year, we were asked to resign from our previous jobs which we did.”
Now, the College authorities are neither expelling these Clinical Instructors nor they are allowing them to teach the students. “If our appointments are illegal, then they should issue a written order and expel us. But they are conveying verbally to us that your appointments are illegal,” they said.
On being asked about the expelling of these Clinical Instructors, the VC of Wakf said: “We have almost expelled them.” Asked, why Wakf is hesitant in issuing a written order, he said: “We want their betterment. But, they and their parents don’t understand this. We want to give them sympathetic consideration.”
Elaborating his point, Peer said: “Now, we have only two options. One is that we can refer their case to Law Department and the other is to allow them to appear in new interviews and we will give them sympathetic consideration on humanitarian grounds.” The VC Wakf admitted that the Clinical Instructors were not at fault.
The Clinical Instructors said that the Wakf has “cheated” them and “snatched their livelihood”. “Many of us belong with poor families and we have been left in lurch now. This is sheer injustice with us,” they said.  “It seems that due to some political compulsions they are punishing us. What is our fault? We are not affiliated to any political party,” they alleged. The VC Wakf, however, denied the charge.
Not only the Clinical Instructors are suffering due to the approach of the authorities, but the students of Bibi Halima College are also bearing its brunt. From last 20 days, there has been almost no class work and it has directly affected the students.

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