KU VC orders transfer of Convocation Complex staff over auditorium ‘defacement’; Probe likely

Srinagar, Nov 21: The Kashmir University Vice-Chancellor Professor Neelofer Khan on Tuesday ordered the transfer of staff at the Convocation Complex after photos and videos of defacement of the auditorium went viral on the campus, triggering outrage among the faculty.
According to an official order, PRO of the Convocation Complex, Lubna Bhat, was transferred along with Supervisor Convocation Complex after the VC took a serious note of defacement of the auditorium for a talent-hunt event presently underway there.
During a surprise inspection of the state-of-the-art auditorium, the VC observed massive defacement of the main hall under the nose of officials concerned and ordered immediate transfer of the PRO for dereliction of duty.
“The staff was initially ordered to be suspended but action was put on hold pending inquiry into the whole issue,” sources said.
The VC took serious note of the matter saying the Convocation Complex was recently renovated at a huge cost of crores of rupees for the annual Convocation function held on October 11.
Two special officials have been posted at the Convocation Complex including Deputy Chief Proctor, Riyaz Qureshi and Placement Officer, Mohammad Ayoub, to oversee arrangements for the talent-hunt event being organised by an outside-University agency/department for next 10 days.
“No KU department is allowed to make any defacement at the Convocation Complex. Here, an outside agency was allowed to do it, which has caused loss to the University’s exchequer,” the sources said, adding that a committee is being constituted by the VC to inquire into the whole issue and fix the responsibility for the lapses.
It may be noted that KU has a strict policy for permission to hold events at Convocation Complex, which is frequented by LG and other VVIPs for national and international events.
“This is a public property and cannot be allowed to be vandalized in this manner, that too when full time officials are tasked with overseeing its arrangements,” the insides said, demanding strict action in the matter.