Former VC Andrabi removed from top posts in Kashmir university

SRINAGAR: With the pressure increasing over his alleged involvement in illegal appointments during his tenure as the Vice Chancellor (VC) of the University of Kashmir, Professor Khurshid Iqbal Andrabi has been removed as the dean of two departments and has been directed to report to his parent department of Biotechnology as a faculty member.
Andrabi, who fought a lost battle with the government over extension of his term as the Vice Chancellor of the varsity, has been removed by the incumbent vice chancellor Prof Talat Ahmad as the Dean School of Unani and Ayurvedic Medicines and Head of Department of Bio-Chemistry.
An official order by Assistant Registrar Academic reads, said: “It is notified for the information of all concerned that the Vice Chancellor in exercise of powers vested in him under section 29(1) of the Kashmir and Jammu Universities Act 1969, has been pleased to nominate Prof Akbar Masood, Department of Biochemistry, as Dean, School of Unani and Ayurvedic Medicines in place of Prof Khurshid Iqbal Andrabi, Department of Biotechnology with immediate effect till further order.”
Another official order by Assistant Registrar- Administration, removed Andrabi as the Head of department of Bio-Chemistry and in his place Dr Shajral Amin has been asked to take charge.
It is to be noted that after his tenure as VC ended, Andrabi was given the aforementioned two positions. Besides, allegation against him over the illegal appointments, there had been a strong resentment among faculty members over him holding two posts.
Prof Khurshid Iqbal Andrabi was appointed as the Vice Chancellor of Kashmir University on October 17, 2014 for a period of three years.
In 2015 the PDP-BJP government amended the Sub Section (5) of Section 12 of the Kashmir and Jammu Universities Act 1969 by substituting the words “three” by the words “five” for tenure of the vice-chancellor.
Andrabi had later moved the High Court Jammu and Kashmir filing a petition seeking extension of his term as per the amended rules.
However, the petition was declined by the court.