Non-gazetted employees at the Kashmir University have alleged ‘witch-hunt’ by its administration after their Association accused the present dispensation of resorting to financial ‘irregularities’ and violation of norms in the recruitment processes.
According to a notice in possession of news agency KNT, the University administration has constituted a committee headed by Dean Academic Affairs Prof Farooq Masoodi to examine/verify the allegations levelled in local dailies by Kashmir University Ministerial Staff Association (KUMSA), a body of non-gazetted non-teaching employees of the University having the strength of more than 2000 employees, on February 21.
“The Committee shall submit its report in a time-bound manner,” the notice reads.
The members of the Committee are Prof. Mushtaq Ahmad Darzi, Director HRDC; Prof Showkat Ahmad Shah, Dean School of Education and Behavioural Sciences; Joint Registrar Budget and Creation; President KUTA; President KUOA and Joint/Assistant Registrar (Gen Adm).
On February 21, the KUMSA Media Secretary circulated a two-page Press Release to media houses which highlighted “some of the problems” faced by the non-gazetted staff.
“The routine promotion files related to non-gazetted staff are unnecessarily being stopped and the staff made to suffer for unknown reasons. Expenditure met at private hospitals and medical reimbursements of cases related to faculty and officers are being entertained and accepted without any kind of referral etc from the concerned authorities. However, in case of non-teaching such cases are outrightly rejected,” the KUMSA press note, which had gone viral on social media, read.
The KUMSA alleged that payment related to construction being carried out in the University worth millions is being released without any kind of check and hindrance and the University transport system has almost been destroyed and made defunct owing to the non-seriousness of the present dispensation.
“Recently certain casual engagements have been made in contradiction to the UT Government orders that completely ban the said appointments,” the KUMSA alleged and condemned the “biased approach” of the University authorities towards the non-teaching (non-gazetted staff) and sought Chancellor’s intervention in the matter.
“In a recent meeting, the Vice-Chancellor completely denied of doing any work in view of the fact that the government administration has reduced his term of 05 years to 03 years, which means he is taking revenge from innocent employees/students and others of the University. The present administration set up in the University is the weakest one in the history of Kashmir University,” the KUMSA alleged.
The KU administration has denied all allegations of KUMSA as baseless and constituted the committee to verify the KUMSA allegations.
However, the KUMSA members have alleged that the Committee constitution is “pure witch-hunting” and the University administration intends to “shoot the messenger”.
KUMSA described the Committee as “totally biased and prejudiced”.
“One member in the Committee is President of KUOA which has already issued a press statement in favour of the present dispensation and against KUMSA in a local daily. How can he be part of the Committee when his Association has already given out its verdict against KUMSA and in favour of the present University administration?” some KUMSA members, whom KNT spoke to said on the condition of anonymity.
They alleged that the whole Committee is pro-administration rather than having some independent members from within and outside the University.
“This committee has two members who were made Directors of two Departments by the present dispensation and another member is Joint Registrar regarding whose department we have talked abou in our press release. This Committee is totally biased and prejudiced and we reject it. How can those holding prime positions under present dispensation hear the KUMSA plea impartially?” the members said.
Furthermore, the KUMSA believes that Presidents of other Associations like KUTA cannot be members of such Committee. “If tomorrow there is an allegation levelled by KUTA against University administration, can that time a non-gazetted KUMSA president verify those allegations and be part of a Committee? Trade Unions have different ways to operate and no single Trade Union can verify claims of another especially when those claims are not related to that trade association,” the KUMSA members said, adding, “We will defend our press statement with documentary evidence but only before some independent Committee and not the one constituted with mala-fide intent.”
When contacted, Registrar Kashmir University, Dr Nisar Mir said that KU has already rebutted the allegations levelled by KUMSA and now it is not an issue at all. He said Committee has been constituted for some disciplinary purposes. “You may have talked to some members of the KUMSA. Please talk to the President, Vice President or General Secretary of the KUMSA, they may be of a different opinion,” Mir said. (KNT)