K Koushal
Even when dozens of eligible faculty members’ of Jammu University attained age of superannuation while fighting for their promotion, an alleged influential bachelor degree holder-Anik Gupta has been exclusively elevated to the prime post of Scientist-G.
According to the sources, as many as 50 Associate Professors of different faculties in the University of Jammu had been fighting for promotion to the next post of Professor, but retired discontented with the cherry picking by the administration.
“There were around 50 Associate Professors, most of them have now attained the age of superannuation, who have been struggling for the promotion, but no heed was paid to their continued fight by successive Vice Chancellors,” said sources, adding that however special provisions were invoked to accommodate Anik Gupta to elevate him to the post of Scientist-G.
Sources revealed that earlier also special provision was made to place Anik Gupta in the next pay scale.
“As per University Council Resolution No. 133 dated, 21-04-2006, Anik Gupta, Project Engineer presently working in the pay scale of Rs 12000-18300 is hereby placed in the next pay scale of Rs 16400-22400 in personal capacity,” said sources, quoting the official document, adding, this was special and an exclusive arrangement for Anik Gupta, as the order further read, “The post shall revert back to its original grade, the moment the post is vacated by Anik Gupta.”
If sources are to be believed, the University administration employed an extra constitutional mandate to change the designation of Anik Gupta.
“The University administration manipulated the content and context of Kashmir University Council Resolution No 3.34, dated 21-10-2009 to change the designation of Anik Gupta from Project Engineer in the department of Physics and Electronics as Scientist-G,” said sources, adding that the person who is not even eligible to be project Engineer has been served with the top most position, even higher than the Professor.
Sources further stated that when the file of Anik Gupta along with other files was sent to the Chancellor for approval, an observation was made, wherein University administration was instructed to send files separately.
Sources also claimed that Anik Gupta has also been made Director Center IT, for which he is also not eligible.
“He does not possess even a Masters degree, but owing to official patronage and manipulating approach, he was made director center IT and also got the scale of Professor without facing any screening or evaluation as per the rules,” said sources, adding that there is a very well defined promotional scheme CAS for the teachers and officers of the University.
As per this scheme a teacher must have a Master’s and Ph.D degree along with other performance parameters to become eligible for promotion to Reader and Professor.
“After meeting eligibility conditions, the candidate has to go through various stages of Screening, Evaluation and Interview for getting promotion to the post/scale of Reader and Professor,” said sources, adding that similarly the officers are promoted up to the scale of Reader after going through the various stages of promotion as laid down in the scheme.
However, for promotion to the scale of Professor, such officers have to compete in an open cadre and may not get promoted to this scale even in the entire service. However, Anik Gupta has been given the Scale of Professor and rank of Scientist-G without meeting any stage of the promotion process.
When contacted Director Center IT and Scientist-G, Anik Gupta denied the allegations and said everything was done as per law.
