Corruption, nepotism prevails in SMVDU; Governor apprised

Sahil Rasgotra. Updated: 3/18/2019 11:32:36 AM Front Page

JAMMU: Established two decades ago after a massive movement by locals, the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU) has allegedly become a hub of nepotism and corruption, severely robbing it of the prestige and teaching quality once associated with it.

The aggrieved faculty members and students have leveled some serious allegations against Dr Sanjeev Jain, Vice-Chancellor of the varsity, who was recently given extension of two years after his original three-year-long term ended on March 15.

A detailed letter has been darted to the Governor Satya Pal Malik, who is also Chancellor of SMVDU, in which the faculty members and students have alleged that under the incumbent VC, the university has become a hub of favouritism and corruption.

The VC has been recruiting some blue-eyed faculty “based on a single application” throwing into trash the norms, the letter—accessed by The News Now—read, adding that the same was rejected by Governor house in past.

“Not only this, but the VC has cleared the probation of certain non-performing faculty despite their poor academic feedback. In one such case, the VC gave full marks to a blue-eyed probating professor while experts in the selection process were left mute spectators,” the letter read.

In order to save his coterie of faculty members, he even went to the extent of saying that feedback of students should be objected, which was highly objected by several members in that meeting, it said.

“Students who complaint against such blue-eyed professors have been threatened of dire consequence,” it added.

The complainants also alleged that in the recent visit of National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) team, fake data was created by showing contractual staff as regular employees of the varsity, while a huge amount of money was spent in unrealistic way.

“That obviously wouldn’t help the varsity’s ranking improve and consequently, it was awarded only B++ grade in the NAAC accredition,” they said.

The Governor has also been apprised of the corrupt practices going on in the SMVDU.

“Buildings have been constructed under Dr Jain’s tenure at exorbitant rates with his vested interests. His chosen vendors were given the contracts even as some purchases were done in advance while tenders for them were opened after the completion of work.

“All the vendors appointed by the VC have received their money within no time whereas local vendors are still awaiting their payments,” it was alleged, asking Governor to initiate a probe in the matter.

The letter also mentioned of back door admissions in the university to fill the vacant seats.

“Recently, one of the Executive Engineer who was on deputation was re-appointed in the varsity a day after his retirement since he was hand in glove with the VC,” the letter said.

It also mentioned of anomalies in the seniority list issued last month by the VC.

“When the faculty members approached VC apprising him of the errors, they were not entertained,” it said.

Meanwhile, another complaint has been lodged with Governor by the students of School of Architecture & Landscape Design (SoALD), alleging ‘harassment’ and requesting him to intervene in the academic affairs of the department.

Signed by 87 students of the department, the complaint alleges that the new Head of Department (HoD) has been “harassing the students mentally and threatening them in the name of disciplinary actions.”

“After the change of HoD, the student-faculty meetings are no longer held and we are forced to study subjects under wrongly assigned faculty by the HoD, who are quite poor-performing.

“Students evaluations are no longer displayed, eroding the transparency even as HoD disrespects the teachers in front of students on various false accounts,” the letter read.
“The situation has worsened and quality of education and innovation is on a rapid decline. The department is heading towards a dictatorship hierarchy rather than a continuous student-teacher democracy.

“We hope our plea will be heard and necessary actions will be taken,” read the letter, a copy of which lies with The News Now.


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