VC of Central University Jammu Under Scanner, May Face Summon

In what is being seen as a major blow to the administration at Central University of Jammu, National Commission of Scheduled Tribes (NCST) and National Commission for Scheduled Caste (NCSC) have issued notices to the vice chancellor (VC) of the university. The notices spoke about the manipulation in the approved status for reservation for the posts of assistant professors, associate professors and professors in a number of disciplines where post were lying vacant. The notice asked VC to submit information within 15 days or face summons for appearance in person before the Commission.

“In case the Commission does not receive reply from you (Vice-Chancellor CUJ) within the stipulated time, the Commission may exercise the powers of Civil Court conferred on it under Article 338 of the Constitution of India and issue summons for your appearance in person or by a representative before the Commission,” reads the notice issued by the commission.

Sources told NewsClick that “approved reservations” were advertised as un-reserved for unknown reason and “fixed Roster Points were manipulated”. It has also been found that the changes in the roster didn’t have approval from the competent authority and was done at the vice chancellor’s own discretion. It is pertinent to note that once the roster is approved by the University Council as per the rights given to the Council by the Government of India, the status of the roster cannot be changed by the VC alone and does require the approval of the members of the authorised body. 

As per the Central Educational Institutions Ordinance 2019 (Reservation in Teachers Cadre), direct recruitment is meant to “provide for the reservation of posts in appointments by direct recruitment of persons belonging to the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes and the socially and educationally backward classes, to teachers’ cadre in certain Central Educational Institutions established, maintained or aided by the Central Government”.

As per the Resolution 10 of the 2nd meeting of the Executive Council, dated 14-01-2013, the Central University of Jammu had approved the Reservation Roster for 200 points. The Vice Chancellor has been accused of favouritism, as it is said that the roster has been manipulated to accommodate his favourite candidates. As per the local daily, Excelsior, “In the Department of Zoology, both the reserved posts of Associate Professor (one each for SC and ST) have been converted into Un-Reserved posts while in the Department of Marketing and Supply Chain Management, one of the two Un-Reserved posts of Associate Professor, has been converted into reserved for ST.”

“In the Department of Nano Science and Materials, Un-Reserved post of Associate Professor has been converted into reserved for ST while in the Department of Physics and Astronomical Sciences, the reserved post of Associate Professor for ST, has been converted into Un-Reserved. In the Department of Educational Studies, one Un-Reserved post of Assistant Professor has been converted into reserved one for the ST,” added the daily.