Srinagar, Dec 20: Serious procedural lapses have been alleged in the appointment of new Registrar at the Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST), Awantipora, prompting calls for a high-level inquiry into the matter by the Lieutenant Governor led administration.
On December 19, the IUST in-charge Registrar issued orders for appointment of Dr Ashfaq Ahmad as Registrar, IUST, for a period of three years from the date of assuming the charge.
“As recommended by the Selection Committee and subsequent approval of the Vice-Chancellor, sanction is accorded to appointment of Dr Ashfaq Ahmad S/O Mohd Aslam R/O Ward No. 9, Rajouri, as Registrar IUST on tenure basis for a period of three years from the date of assuming the charge,” the order, a copy of which lies with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), reads.
However, the “terms and conditions” in the appointment order are alleged to have seriously violated the new procedures in vogue in all universities, including seeking mandatory CID and ACB clearances at the institutional level before issuance of formal orders.
Stakeholders said the appointment order of IUST says that the salary of the appointee shall not be drawn and disbursed to him “unless the satisfactory reports in respect of his Character and Antecedents are received in his favour. And in case of adverse report, the appointment shall be deemed to have been cancelled ab-initio.”
Furthermore, the order reads that the appointee shall be required to produce a “Clearance Certificate issued by the present employer stating that no Vigilance/ Departmental proceedings are contemplated or pending against the appointee.”
“With both these terms and conditions, there have been serious procedural lapses because the University should have itself sought CID clearance and Vigilance clearance from the concerned departments, rather than asking the appointee himself or his present employer to do so,” said the sources, adding that in all other universities across the J&K UT, there is an established practice wherein the Chancellor’s Office seeks prior CID/ACB clearances in case of such appointees well before issuing the formal orders.
In the present case of IUST, allegations of procedural violations have raised serious concerns because the new appointee Registrar had figured as an accused in one FIR filed by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in 2018 regarding his alleged role in an appointment irregularity at Kashmir University, where he presently serves as Joint Registrar.
In view of the said FIR, the appointee was previously denied ACB clearance for the position of Director, DIQA at Kashmir University, forcing the University authorities to re-advertise the post.
“IUST may have its own procedures but the general practice across universities is that prior CID/Vigilance clearance is sought before orders are issued,” said the sources, adding “what if ACB says he continues to be accused in the case? Will University cancel the appointment?”.
Stakeholders demanded the LG administration to intervene and set the procedure correct so that IUST follows the practice which is in vogue in all other universities—(KNO)
