Srinagar, April 09, KDC: Prof Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar stepped down as the chief of the University Grants Commission, paving way for appointment of the new head of the country’s top regulator for varsities. The reason for his stepping down is the age bar of 65 that Prof Mamidala touched, ending his stint as the UGC boss.
Prof Mamidala’s stepping down has prompted questions over the continuation of Prof Neelofar Khan, the Vice Chancellor of the Kashmir University who has already turned 65 on January 31 this year.
“If an academic of the stature of Prof Mamidala can step down citing 65 age bar, there is no reason for continuation of Kashmir University VC beyond this upper age limit,” said a Kashmir University academic, wishing anonymity. “It is not only illegal, but unethical and unprofessional too”.
A former Vice Chancellor told Kashmir Dot Com that it is both a written and unwritten rule that no Vice Chancellor of a State University can continue beyond the age of 65, not even for a single day.
“When a person applies for the post of a VC for Kashmir University, the upper age limit for applying is 62 and the term of VCship is three years where-at the VC touches 65. Therefore, the VC in the chair has to step down on the day he/she turns 65,” the former VC said.
Adding to this argument is the fact that ethics don’t allow a VC to continue beyond the upper age limit as the same leads to administrative chaos. “You cannot allow the VC to take policy decisions after crossing the upper age limit, which negatively impacts the functioning of the institution,” said a University professor.
Unease over continuation of VC is growing in Kashmir University where academics have already appealed to the Chancellor to constitute a search committee for appointment of the new VC. The unease has been further compounded by the fact that Prof Neelofar Khan is accused of delaying the varsity’s inspection by NAAC to facilitate her continuation as VC beyond May 2025 when she completes her three-year tenure.
“The NAAC inspection was due six months ago but it was purposefully delayed to let VC continue using it as a pretext,” said the sources, adding that the University is presently facing administrative instability owing to continuation of VC beyond the age of 65.
Sources said the University was supposed to write to the Chancellor about the age of VC and request for the constitution of a search committee. (KDC)
However, unethical & immoral practices in education is also rampant throughout the country like all other disciplines of the esociety. Anyone pinpointing singularly a person now a days doesn’t satisfy.
People at IUST are working beyond 70,what is new in it