“I was told that he will throw me out of university. He is an intolerant person, who doesn’t want any opposition to his unethical and illegal matters”
K Koushal
After facing charges of alleged corruption, Vice Chancellor of Central University of Jammu (CUJ) Prof Ashok Aima has again come under severe criticism for ‘misconduct, nepotism and hooliganism’. A representation in this regard has been submitted to the Ministry of Education, Government of India.
A representation (copy available with The Typewriter) submitted to the Ministry of Education, Government of India, claimed that the incumbent Vice Chancellor has taken entire varsity as hostage.
“I am in writing this complaint after facing the harassment at academic, professional as well as mental level by the Registrar on directions of Vice Chancellor, Central University of Jammu Professor Ashok Aima because I did and doing my duty responsibly,” reads content of the letter, adding that Vice Chancellor, Professor Ashok Aima allegedly changed the ‘approved’ Reservation Roster (200 Point post based) for Teaching (Faculties) by swapping positions earmarked for UR, SC and ST categories.
The representation reads that on the basis of manipulated and changed roaster, Vice Chancellor advertised posts on the very next day by pressurizing the members with a threat warning “Nahi To Naukari Se Nikal Dunga” (otherwise you will be shunted out of the job).
“In September 2019, CUJ authorities went ahead and started recruitment process over the positions in question (swapped),” reads letter, adding “Due to all such wrong doing, I in the capacity of Liaison Officer OBC Cell CUJ made a complaint to the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) along with MHRD, UGC, NCSC and NCST. NCBC took action over the complaint and started an enquiry.”
Complainant claimed that since then she has been harassed by the Registrar on the behest of Vice Chancellor Professor Ashok Aima. “They are harassing me academically, professionally and mentally by halting my files at their end, putting baseless comments over them and also putting allegations on me and my husband,” reads the content of the letter, adding “Non implementation of reservation policy, manipulation in the reservation roster, scheduling the interviews and withdrawal of positions in unusual manner in the name of implementation of OBC and EWS in recruitment at the Central University of Jammu are against concerned Authorities of Central University of Jammu.”
Complainant asserted that Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions (Department of Personnel and Training) mentioned under the “Span of Control of Liaison Officers” stated “If Liaison Officers of Ministries/Departments notice that there is flouting of reservation instructions by any officers or complaint against any officer of harassment or deliberate manipulating things to damage the interests of the weaker sections they should feel free to report such lapses to the Secretary/Additional Secretary of the Ministry/Department concerned without fear and hesitation of hierarchical disobedience”.
Accusing Vice Chancellor, Prof Ashok Aima of alleged misconduct, a senior faculty member wishing anonymity said that he was humiliated by the Vice Chancellor for resisting his anti-student and anti-academic moves, which were detrimental for the academic health of the varsity.
“You will never find Prof Ashok Aima good with faculty. He is always showing disrespect to them, as if they are his personal servants,” said senior faculty, adding that whosoever speaks against or opposes his arbitrary decisions, has to face backlash.
Faculty member maintained that Prof Aima has created a kind of lobby of particular community around him, who are supporting him and his ‘illegal’ actions.
“Members of particular community have been appointed on different posts, especially where decisions of Vice Chancellor could be supported. He has created a coterie of particular community, who have been given multiple charges, so that his wishful and illegal actions may not be questioned,” said faculty member, adding that Prof Aima will not hesitate for a second to adjust ‘blue eyed’ candidates, thus largely harming merit.
He said that if anything, Vice Chancellor has more than earned the sobriquet with its regular and unfailing monopoly of education scandals and controversies.
A former employee of the university, requested not to be named, shared that vice chancellor of the CUJ is ‘hooligan’. “One cannot expect the kind of character this vice chancellor has. He openly threatens its employees,” said former employee, who was on deputation in the CUJ.
He stated that once when he objected his ‘illegal’ decision, he allegedly threatened him.
“I was told that he will throw me out of university. He is an intolerant person, who doesn’t want any opposition to his unethical and illegal matters,” said former employee, adding that if working of the university is observed, there is more ‘yes men’ brigade.
He claimed that multiple representations have been submitted against ‘misconduct, nepotism and hooligan’ approach of Prof Aima, but due to his strong political clout, nothing has been done.
“Imagine the level of political clout he has. A senior BJP leader and Member Parliament is in open support of Vice Chancellor that is why, he continues to rule the roost, despite six years of mismanagement in the university,” said former employee.
Talking to The Typewriter, Vice Chancellor Central University of Jammu, Prof Ashok Aima said that the post of OBC was never touched and the representation regarding change in roaster was motivated with vested interests.
“You are being misfed. The post of OBC was never touched. I will tell you that initially when the university was established, Mathematics Department was recorded as Applied Mathematics, which for unknown reasons was later on changed to Mathematics Department, thus changing the nomenclature of the department from A to M,” said Prof Ashok Aima, adding that when he assumed the university as Vice Chancellor, he ‘reversed’ the order.
He maintained that when he tried to fix these things, some people expressed discontent and wrote representation to the Ministry of Education, which was based on ‘sheer prejudice and vested interests’.
“Three members enquiry committee, comprised of members from reserved category was constituted by UGC. The committee submitted its report which was all clear,” claimed Prof Ashok Aima, adding that you will be glad to know that 60 percent roaster is for reserved category.
