KU advertises six administrative positions; Academicians welcome move

Srinagar, Jan 10: The Kashmir University (KU) authorities on Tuesday put several administrative positions including Registrar and Director IT to advertisement. The advertisement comes days after this news agency reported how temporary arrangement to these posts was promoting favouritism and monopoly.
Sources said that the decision to advertise these posts was taken after the Vice Chancellor Dr. Neelofar Khan passed instructions to immediately advertise these posts so that the same are filled up through proper channel.
“Some officers were trying to sabotage the advertisement and get it delayed to continue with the temporary arrangement but the VC pulled up the officers and ordered that the advertisement be issued without any delay,” the sources added.
The advertised posts (all Tenure Positions) include Registrar Main Campus, Librarian Allama Iqbal Library, Director Directorate of Physical Education and Sports, Director Information Technology and Support System, Director North Campus Baramulla and Director Institute of Technology, Zakura.
The appointment to the post of Registrar shall be tenure basis for a period of three years and to other tenure posts for a period of five years, as per the Brief Advertisement Notice No.1 of 2023 Dated 10/01/2023.
The Advertisement Notice mentions that the age of applicants should preferably be not more than 57 years for the post of Registrar and Librarian, while it will be 55 years for other posts.
The date for submission of online form/hard copy starts from January 16.
It was reported several times in the last seven months that the University authorities were allegedly promoting favouritism on important administrative positions by not putting these positions to proper advertisement.
The three year tenure of In-Charge Registrar Dr Nisar had ended last year in January 2022 and was awaiting proper advertisement since then. Academicians of the University had alleged that the Registrar was continuing without any formal orders on continuation.
The post of Director IT is being held for the last more than six years by one Scientist allegedly owing to his proximity with the administration. The In-Charge Director has not been rotated for six years in total violation of the University’s own three year rotation policy for all HOD’s and Directors.
The Scientist has faced serious allegations related to his Ph.D Degree and grant of huge sum of money in lakhs as medical reimbursement to his late mother’s treatment allegedly in violation of reimbursement rules.
Sources said an inquiry is underway to ascertain the complaints made against the accused Scientist.
The academicians of KU have welcomed the Advertisement Notice and demanded that the process of recruitment should be fast-tracked.
“We appreciate the VC for opposing the forces who were opposing the Advertisement for the last six months,” said an academician wishing anonymity.
The academicians have however demanded that the VC should immediately remove incumbent officials holding the advertised posts so that there is no favouritism in the recruitment process.
“If any of these officials happens to be an applicant for any of the posts, then the whole process will be doubtful from the beginning,” they said, adding that if these officials do not intend to apply, then they should furnish an undertaking before the VC that they will not apply for any of the positions.