Vice-Chancellors and Pro-Vice Chancellors for four Jharkhand universities will be appointed soon as the search committee formed for the purpose is in last phase of shortlisting names for the posts, said Governor Dr Syed Ahmed while sharing his vision for the development of State with The Pioneer in this New Year at Raj Bhawan.
Ahmed said that the search committee formed by Raj Bhwan was headed by the then Acting Chief Justice and thus no question could be raised on its integrity. He indicated that inclusion of members of judicial fraternity and top brass of the Government in the search committee was meant to ensure that the process of appointment was just and fair.
“Appointment of VCs has been a matter of controversies not only in Jharkhand but elsewhere also. It was for this reason we have to ensure that the appointments made are errorless and impartial. The committee is doing its work properly and we will soon have good people holding responsible posts in the universities,” the Governor said.
On the question of delay in the appointments and transparency in the process, the Governor said that the delay was “natural” because of one of the members being appointed as Chairman of JPSC and there was enough transparency being maintained in the process as far as applicable. “The names of the shortlisted candidates could be confidential but the number of applicants and some other details could be accessed if need be,” he said.
It is pertinent to mention here that the posts of VCs in four out of five State-run Universities -- Vinoba Bhave University (VBU), Hazaribagh; Sido Kanhu Murmu University SKMU), Dumka, Nilamber Pitamber University (NPU), Palamau, Kolhan University (KU), Chaibasa, are manned by bureaucrats as their additional charge. The Raj Bhawan has formed a search committee headed by Justice DN Patel for the purpose and it is said to be in the last phase of shortlisting names among hundreds of applications.
The posts of VC and Pro-VC at VBU have been lying vacant since August-September 2013, posts of VCs at KU and NPU since mid-November, and SKMU since July 2013. Talking about the present situation in the State, Ahmed said that earlier corruption was rampant and law and order situation in the State was pathetic. But, during President’s Rule some radical steps were taken to improve the situation.
“We had taken crucial steps for the betterment of the State during President’s Rule. We had taken action against lethargy in governance. lethargy is a way of life here, especially among some bureaucrats. The bureaucracy here needs to be more pro-active. It should work with the same enthusiasm and pace as it used to do during President’s Rule,” he said, adding, “We have to understand that the development of the State is not an individual’s job. It is a team work. And our commitment should be such that the fruits of Government schemes reach the last man of the State.”