Also neither was any justification for creation of the posts on record nor the nature of duties and roles and responsibilities assigned to the posts spell out in the order for creation of the posts
K Koushal
A latest scrutiny by Senior Audit Officer has opened up the Pandora box of alleged favouritism and arbitrariness by those at the helm of affairs in various appointments at University of Jammu, especially ‘arbitrary’ conversion of non-teaching posts to teaching cadre.
As per the official documents (In possession of The Typewriter), norms for recruitment and promotion of teaching staff were prescribed by University Grants Commission (UGC), which have been opted by the University from time to time.
“Against existing hierarchy of Lecturers, Readers and Professors, the revised UGC regulations of 2010 prescribed three designations of Assistant Professors, Associate Professors and Professors. There neither exist any posts of Academic Coordinators in the teaching cadre nor do any provisions in UGC regulations on Minimum Qualifications for appointment of teachers and other academic staff in universities and colleges and measures for the maintenance of standards in higher education 1998 or 2010 or 2018 permit conversion of non-teaching posts to teaching cadre,” reads the document, adding that scrutiny of service records of teaching wing revealed that two posts of Academic coordinators each at Kathua and Bhaderwah campus in the unrevised scale of 8000-275-13500 were created by the University during 2005-06.
Similarly, a temporary vacancy of Coordinator Extension campuses in the unrevised pay scale of 12000 18300 was created (February 2008) by converting one post of Reader cum coordinator law.
The document revealed that in an alleged violation of instructions (March 1988, December 2010) of DoPT’, requiring framing of Recruitment Rules (RRs) for all posts which are likely to last for one year or more, (as soon as a decision is taken to create a new post/service or to upgrade any post or restructure any service); no recruitment rules were framed stipulating the selection criteria for each position, requirements of educational qualification, experience and reservation roster, age limit, composition of the selection committee, manner of selection and details of competent authorities to approve various stages of recruitments.
“Also neither was any justification for creation of the posts on record nor the nature of duties and roles and responsibilities assigned to the posts spell out in the order for creation of the posts,” reads the document, adding that the Financial Advisor Universities and Director codes had issued instructions related to creation, deemed abolition revival and continuation of posts from time to time for compliance by the state Government departments and Autonomous bodies.
It stated that the Ministry of Finance Department of Expenditure also cautioned against diversion of posts to another purpose at the same or different station and their utilization as standby to accommodate personnel.
“Such diversion of post obviously leads to the conclusion that the purpose for which the post was originally created has ceased to exist and the diversion is effected to cope with some new item of work notwithstanding the fact the such arrangement is within the same cadre/organization and or/at the same or different stations,” reads the document, adding that such case of diversion/transfer adjustment would amount to creating a new posts and, therefore, require prior clearance at appropriate level.
Official documents further asserted that against the post of academic coordinator Kathua campus, Dr Vivek Sharma was initially appointed (February 2008) for a period of one year at a consolidated salary of Rs 15000 and was subsequently regularized on a permanent basis w.e.f 18.02.2009.
Similarly, against the post of academic coordinator Bhaderwah campus, Dr Dawood lqbal Baba was appointed (August 2006) and subsequently elevated (May 2008) against a temporary vacancy of coordinator Extension Campuses created (February 2008). However, the post was never reverted back and the incumbent to the post continues to enjoy.
“Consequent upon elevation of Dr Dawood lqbal Baba, the post of academic Bhaderwah was advertised by the University (November 2009), in response to which 26 applications were received and 19 applicants presented themselves for interview. The desirable qualification prescribed for the post as per the advertisement included Ph.D. in any subject with at least three years post doctoral or teaching experience and published work in reputed journals. Of the 19 candidates who appeared for the interview, 15 candidates were possessing Ph.D degrees,” reads the report, adding, “Instead of selecting a suitable candidate from among the PhD candidates, the selection committee selected Kuljit Singh as Academic Coordinator, for which there were no recorded reasons. Kuljit Singh joined the service on 10/03/2010 and acquired the said degree at a later stage in October 2015.”
It maintained that while the appointment of Dr. Vivek Shama through regularization paved way for subsequent regularizations of teachers and project officers in the university, the appointment of Dr Dawood lqbal Baba against a temporary vacancy and Kuljit Singh in the light of above facts was also questionable ab-intio.
The audit report further stated that in violation of UGC guidelines, the University (February 2008) in its 67th council resolved to treat the posts of academic coordinators of Bhaderwah and other campuses as part of teaching faculty and apply rules and regulations as applicable to teachers to these posts. However, since the duties assigned to these positions did not involve teaching and research, these academic coordinators could not have earned on their API scores and the university, in order to facilitate their career advancements at par with teacher’s assigned Phd scholars /guest lecturers to these academic coordinators without any change in their designations.
“However, the roles and responsibilities attached to these posts were nowhere on record. Further assigning Research scholars has resulted in non-adherence of minimum standards for appointing Research Supervisors, in the light of UGC norms (May 2016) stating that a Research Supervisor should be a regular Professor of the university/college concerned with at least five research publications in referred journals or a regular Associate/Assistant Professor of the university/college concerned with a PhD degree and at least two research publications in referred journals. Basis for treating these posts as teaching positions,” Audit report revealed.
Talking to The Typewriter, Registrar of the University, Prof Arvind Jasrotia said that it is continuous process and concerned wing of the University shall reply to it.
When contacted Dawood Iqbal Baba, Vivek Sharma and Kuljeet Singh, they expressed their ignorance.
