Search for a new VC: Committee begins interaction with stakeholders

Srinagar: The search committee constituted to hunt for a new Vice Chancellor for the Kashmir University (KU) on Friday began their interaction with the stakeholders in the varsity.

The search committee held interactions with the heads of the departments, directors of KU campuses, heads of the departments, professors, associate professors and assistant professors besides research scholars.

During the interactions with the stakeholders, the directors of campuses have said the new VC for the varsity should not give step-motherly treatment to the campuses.

“Campuses should be given unbiased treatment which will pave way for development of these institutions,” the insiders of the meeting revealed while sharing the inside developments.

They informed that the stakeholders have suggested that the appointment of VC should be made on basis of merit and his past experience and contribution instead of his region.

“The new VC should have strict bureaucratic approach of administration and should also be able to overcome the academic mess in the University,” the insiders said, adding that it was opined that new VC should be rich in terms of academics as well as in administrative experience.

Pertinently, the tenure of new VC will be for five years in the varsity. “So the appointment should be apolictal and the new head should be given some freedom to contribute towards the institution.”

The University of Kashmir is getting much prestige for being the oldest university in the state. It was setup in September 1948 and was earlier known as Jammu and Kashmir University.

“The appointment of new VC should not be made on the basis of his research and publication but his past experience and contribution in his field. The new head should be able to handle the academic as well as administrative affairs efficiently,” said one of the professors who attended the meeting.

Pertinently, the post of KU vice-chancellor was advertised last month following constitution of the search committee by the university’s chancellor, Governor NN Vohra, in September 2017. 

The search committee, which met the university faculty on Friday is headed by Prof DP Agarwal, former chairman of the Union Public Service Commission, while Prof Ehtisham Hasnain, vice-chancellor of Jamia Hamdard University New Delhi and Prof Vijay Gupta, former vice-chancellor of Sharda University are its members.

The incumbent VC, Prof Andrabi’s three year term ended in October 2017, following which he had filed a petition in the High Court seeking five-year term in accordance with the amendments made in the J&K Universities Act, 1969. 

The Act was amended to the extent that the word “three” for the term of VC shall be substituted by the word “five”.  The High Court however, dismissed the petition, saying it cannot be given a retrospective effect.

 Andrabi is not among applicants for VC’s post this time. Meanwhile, the search committee will meet KUTA, KUOA and KUMSA on Saturday.

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