KU strokes controversy, asks teaching faculty to ‘submit casual leave’ to avail summer vacations

Srinagar, Sep 6: Violating all norms, Kashmir University (KU) has allegedly asked the teaching faculty to submit casual leave for availing summer vacations.
On 24 July of the current year, KU announced summer vacations for teaching departments from 28 July to 6 August, 2023.
“It is first time in the history of Kashmir University that some professors of School of Law, KU, were insistently dictated by Dean, School of Law Prof. Mohammad Hussain to submit casual leave for availing summer vacation after the summer vacations were over,” an official said.
The HoD threatened them of withholding their salaries after the aggrieved professors objected to his dictate.
“The faculty professors were harassed and asked to submit the leave with the office of HoD, failing which a departmental action shall be taken against them,” confirmed an official from the administrative department of KU.
The Heads, Directors and Deans of other faculties and departments of the varsity has expressed surprise over the move and demanded impartial inquiry in the entire matter.
“This is a violation of KU norms and guidelines. No HoD is authorized to amend the rules on his own. We at our faculties have never done this. This is an unwarranted and grave violation,” said a group of HoDs at KU.
A legal expert said that the move by the School of Law HoD amounts to a bare violation of civil service rules and other recruitment rules of the university.
“This is such a grave violation of rules that a high level inquiry should be held and the controversial HoD should be put under suspension for harassing faculty members which otherwise would be detrimental to the academic atmosphere of the department as well as the university,” said a group of professors.
“Such action of the Dean has brought defamation and ignited an unfavorable and non-conducive environment in the department which can prove detrimental to peaceful and smooth teaching and learning transactions and can impact the overall departmental functioning,” said a group of students.
They added that how come the Head & Dean has refused to comply with the summer vacation order issued by Kashmir University.
Kashmir University Registrar Nisar Ahmad Mir said that asking for submitting a casual leave makes no sense, but he will look into the matter. “Anyone, who is being asked to submit casual leave should approach me in this regard,” he said.
When contacted, Vice Chancellor Nilofer Khan stated that she will look into the matter. (KNO)