In an incidence which reflects poorly on the functioning of State Government and shows callous approach of babudom, the higher education department has transferred an Associate Professor who is dead. On Thursday, the Government released the transfer orders of 16 assistant Professors, associate Professors and Principals.
Surprisingly in the list the name of Jodh Singh Negi also figured who had committed suicide last month. Negi was head of department of Economics at Government Post Graduate College Kotdwar. In the transfer order, he was shifted from Kotdwar to Government College Nagnath Pokhri in Chamoli district (see picture). Negi was found hanging in his house in Kotdwar on July 30. It is learnt that he has himself requested the authorities to transfer him from Kotdwar, where he was posted from last many years to Nagnath Pokhri in Chamoli district as his wife who is a teacher in school education department was recently transferred there on promotion.
When contacted on phone, the Director Higher education, BC Malkani claimed that the directorate is yet to get the list of the transfers. He added that he presently is on leave for last four days and is not aware how the name of a dead person appeared in the list of transfers.
However the teaching fraternity of State is aghast at the discrepancy. “It shows how our system functions. The death of JS Negi was shocking for all of us and everyone associated with the higher education in the state is aware of his passing away. The news of his death was widely reported by the media too.
Only our directorate and the senior officers of the department appear to be ignorant about his death which is shocking as well as shameful,’’ said one of a former colleague of JS Negi.