Srinagar: While reports about the appointment of new Vice Chancellor in Kashmir University are doing rounds, the varsity’s former VC Prof Talat Ahmad is the frontrunner for the coveted post.
Apart from Prof Talat, who is currently the VC Jamia Millia Islamia, the other contenders are Prof Mushtaq Ahmad Kaw, former dean of colleges KU (currently head department of history MANUU, Hyderabad) and Prof Mazaahir Kidwai (department of chemistry, University of Delhi).
As per reports, Governor N N Vohra is likely to appoint vice-chancellors of Kashmir and Jammu universities within few days.
Sources close the Raj Bhawan has learnt that Prof Talat Ahmad is considered favourite for the position given his “marvelous” contribution to the Kashmir University he headed from 2012 to 2014.
“Prof Talat is the most non-controversial VC of KU in the recent history. During his tenure, he emerged as the most favorite among students and scholars who were primarily benefitted by him,” said a lecturer at varsity wishing anonymity.
A senior employee at KU said in his three year tenure, Prof Talat was instrumental in construction of around 2 new hostel buildings and up-gradation of few departments and off-site campuses like North, South, Kupwara, Leh and Kargil.
“He brought many things for the benefit of student community like CCD (Café Coffee Day) which was serving coffee and many more things to students and University Staff on 50 percent concessional rates,” he said.
An official at the university’s administration department said Kashmir University was under a lot of debt and financial stress but Prof Talat brought more funds for the university.
“He also used to organize 2-3 meetings with student/scholars’ representatives every month and brought student and administration closer in the campus. He blocked the culture of favoritism, nepotism and corruption in campus,” the official said.
“Prof Talat made employees punctual and tried to root out lobbyism which is much more prevalent in the present dispensation. He used to stress on ‘one man one position’ so as to make delivery of services more effective,” he said.
Many insiders in the university said the former VC worked for the policy of regularization of casuals/contractual in the campus, and was instrumental in framing roadmap for their regularization way back in 2013 “which were illegally appointed by previous vice chancellors and officials down the line”.
“Still, the credit of their regularization is taken by the present dispensation again,” they said.
As the names of 3 probables have been sent to Raj Bhawan by the selection committee framed for the purpose, everyone is waiting for the final announcement from Governor N N Vohra.
