The Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, which had played a key role during green revolution, has been losing its sheen due to dillydallying attitude of State Government. The State Government is doing all these to appoint an Ex-PCCF as new Vice-Chancellor (VC) of the university.
Earlier, the State Government had acquired their land for the promotion of industrialisation in the State and now they have been making delay in the appointment of regular vice chancellor in it. With this administrative works are getting delayed here. Even Uttarakhand Governor Dr Aziz Qureshi has expressed displeasure on it and reiterated that he would go to any extent to save the university.
Talking to media persons, Dr Qureshi said that there is a norm that search committee, which short list candidate who apply for vice chancellor post, sends a panel comprise of three names, before governor to select Vice Chancellor. As per the norm, search committee should comprise of a sitting or retired judge of high court and sitting Director General of Indian council of Agriculture and Research (ICAR) but they (state agriculture Ministry) did not follow the norms while constituting the search committee.
Talking to The Pioneer, Dr Qureshi categorically said that when he found that the panel’s name do not have eligibility to be appointed as VC of the university so he rejected the panel and instructed the committee to send all the applicant’s details to Rajbhawan. Refusing to disclose the name of the search committee Dr Qureshi said that State Government did not follow the criteria while appointing the search committee.
Explaining further he said that he was surprised when he knew that Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Director General, who is supposed to be one of the members of search committee, was removed from the committee. Talking about the panel, which was comprised of three names, one out of three was not even fulfilling eligibility criteria i.e. an applicant must have an experience of teaching at least 10 years long as a Professor.
He reiterated that he would not appoint VC unless and until he assures that all procedures were followed. Showing his deep concern towards the university Dr Qureshi mentioned that former Governor Margaret Alva had categorically suggested him to do something concrete to save the glory of Pantnagar University otherwise it would be a great loss to the nation and state as well. She made this appeal before leaving to Uttarakhand.
Recently concluded budget session an MlA had raised the issue and treasury bench assured that they would speak to the governor. Reacting on it, he assures that being a custodian of the university he would not appoint ineligible vice chancellor at any cost.