“This adjustment allows parachuting an official from the grade pay of Assistant Director to that of a Director, bypassing the intermediate ranks“
K. Koushal
University of Jammu under the aegis of Vice Chancellor, Prof Umesh Rai has allegedly tailored the recommendations of the committee, constituted to device qualification for the post of Director, Centre for IT enabled services and management, reportedly to accommodate an influential official, who otherwise is not eligible for the post.
According to the available records (in possession of The Typewriter), the post of Director for the Information Technology Support System was initially approved by the university council on June 21, 2004. It was resolved to adopt the same qualifications as the University of Kashmir for its Allama Iqbal Library. On March 27, 2009, the post was renamed to Director, Centre for IT Enabled Services and Management without changes to the prescribed qualifications.
To establish the qualifications for the post, Vice Chancellor constituted a committee comprising, Prof. Rahul Gupta, Prof. Pawnesh Abrol, Prof. Vinod Sharma, and Dr. Raj Kumar. This committee, on July 22, 2022, recommended that the prescribed qualification for the said post should be B.E/B.Tech or recognized equivalent with 55% marks in the relevant field of technology with 16 years of experience and Experience of at least 5 years as Scientist F/Associate Professor.
They also recommended, M.Tech/M.E/B.E/MCA with MBA or recognized equivalent qualifications with 55% marks in the relevant field of technology with 14 years of experience in the relevant field and PhD in the relevant field of technology with 55% marks at the Master’s level with 10 years of experience at a position equivalent to Assistant Professor/Assistant Director.
Lastly, the applicant should be Professor of Computer Sciences/Information Technology or equivalent.
Meanwhile, these recommendations were presented at the 119th syndicate meeting on December 14, 2022. Allegedly, the title of items presented in the Syndicate and Council was made to formulate the qualification and guidelines for the post of Director IT as recommended by the duly constituted committee but the resolution of time one of the potions of the qualification was by reducing the experience from 13 years to 10 years and by incorporating Assistant Professor/ Assistant director which committee never recommend in their recommendation.the University at its own reduced the required experience to accommodate a particular officer working as Assistant Director IT because one of his close friends is on top post at Rak Bhawan. The revised qualifications now state B.E/B.Tech or recognized equivalent qualification with 55% marks in the relevant field of technology with 15 years of experience and Experience of at least 5 years as Scientist F/Associate Professor.
M.Tech/M.E/B.E/MCA or recognized equivalent qualifications with 55% marks in the relevant field of technology with 12 years of experience in the relevant field and PhD in the relevant field of technology with a Master’s degree and 55% marks with 10 years of experience in a position equivalent to Assistant Professor/Assistant Director in the relevant area.
Lastly, the applicant should be Professor of Computer Sciences/Information Technology or equivalent.
A senior officer, wishing to remain anonymous, condemned these changes as grossly illegal and also said that in order to appoint the blue eyed Assistant Director as Director IT, the Vice Chancellor has totally violated the recommendations of the committee.
“The Vice Chancellor, Jammu University has tailored the eligibility because he has been assured of two year extension by the same official, who has good acquaintances in the office of Lieutenant Governor,” alleged senior officer, adding that the extension order of the Vice Chancellor is on cards and can be issued anytime.
Officer further shared that the concerned blue eyed person is having a strong association with political leadership because his father was appointed as Director, Colleges Development Council on the orders of then government, so this blue eyed official is also using his political clout to influence his illegal appointment as Director IT.
“This adjustment allows parachuting an official from the grade pay of Assistant Director to that of a Director, bypassing the intermediate ranks” he stated. This move will raise questions about the integrity and fairness of the university’s appointment process.
He said that it is unresolved fact that the office of Lieutenant Governor and Vice Chancellor decides the decision of the syndicate to alter the qualifications for the Director’s post, which will certainly raise serious questions about transparency and meritocracy at the University of Jammu.
Talking to The Typewriter, Registrar University of Jammu, Prof Rahul Gupta said that as a part of the committee, they had recommended eligibility for the post as per AICTE norms, but he has no knowledge about the changes in the eligibility presented before the University council.
