The Jammu Kashmir administration has proposed that the appointments in Universities across Jammu Kashmir shall be open to all Indian citizens, irrespective of caste, creed, region, or religion to participate, subject to eligibility criteria and any shortlisting processes, to participate in the selection process.
The new Jammu Kashmir public universities bill says that it shall be the duty of the Jammu Kashmir Public Service Commission to hold and conduct an Eligibility test at the Jammu and Kashmir level in such subjects or subjects as may be prescribed.
The Government may establish new universities by converting existing colleges into universities or by merging one or more existing universities or uniting a cluster of colleges into a Cluster University.
The bill has proposed that the Lieutenant Governor shall be the Chancellor of the University and provides absolute power to the Chancellor’s “powers and functions” act of the bill.
The Chancellor, when present, shall preside over the Convocation of the University, Chair the Governing Council of the University, and may issue directions to the Vice-Chancellor to convene the meeting of any authority of the University for specific purposes, whenever he deems necessary.
The New Bill states that the Chancellor will have the power to appoint and remove the Vice-Chancellor in accordance with the provisions under section 18 and section 21 of the Act.
“Where, in the opinion of the Chancellor, the conduct of any elected or nominated or appointed or co-opted member is detrimental to the smooth functioning of the University or any authority or body or committee, he may, after allowing such member to offer his explanation in writing and after considering such explanation, if any, and satisfying himself that it is necessary so to do, disqualify such member or suspend him for such period, as he may deem fit,” the Act says.
The Act grants the LG (Chancellor) to dismiss or remove or reduce in rank any such officer, faculty, or temporary employee, including pensioners of the University, if they feel they have acted in a manner prejudicial to the security of the State or the unity and integrity of India without an inquiry, the Act further says.
Stating the incorporation, objects, powers, and functions, of the establishment of a new university, the bill reads, “The Government may, by amendment of the Schedule-I to this Act, followed by notification in the official gazette establish new universities by such name and for such jurisdiction as may be notified.”
The admin will also appoint the Registrar who will be the Chief Administrative Officer of the University.
The Registrar, as per the new bill, will have the power to seek information regarding any matter of the University, from the Deans, Finance and Accounts Officer, and any other officer of the University for Submission to the Government and other external agencies.
The Finance officer shall also be appointed by the Government.
The bill further states that the Government may also establish and incorporate, teaching-intensive universities, research-intensive universities, Multidisciplinary Education and Research Universities (MERUs), or any other Universities in consonance with the spirit and guidelines of the National Education Policy 2020 and to inter alia give equal access to higher education to all citizens.
“The Government may establish new Universities by converting existing colleges into universities or by merging one or more existing universities or uniting a cluster of colleges into a Cluster University and notifying them as such after including them under Schedule-I (Part-II) of the Act,” reads the bill.
It further states that the government may alter the jurisdiction of any university.
The bill further reads, “The Government may also change the composition or jurisdiction of cluster universities by de-notifying, deleting or modifying colleges which are currently constituent colleges of a cluster university or notifying or adding new colleges to the composition of such universities.”
According to the Jammu and Kashmir public universities bill, 2022, the government may also close any existing public university— With Inputs from KNO