HimVani
Shimla: Stalemate prevailed in the campus of Himachal Pradesh University as main opposition parties like Congress and CPI (M) came forward with agitating employees protesting against the ad-hoc appointment Controller of Examinations by Vice Chancellor. The entire teaching and non teaching employees today continue their two week long agitation against ad-hoc appointment of Controller of Examination of HPU, as two rounds of talk failed to resolve the existing stalemate between the two.
The controversy aroused when VC Sunil Kumar Gupta using his discretionary powers appointed former College Principal Naresh Kumar Mahajan as Controller of Examination on Jan 7, 2011, as this post had fallen vacant after retiring earlier COE. The employees alleged that ad-hoc arrangement for such a prestigious post was from outside the University. Moreover, it defied the eligibility norms, as appointee does not fulfill the minimum experience to be COE of university. As per the norms appointee should have headed any educational institutions on administrative capacity for at least five years. Vice Chancellor rejected the contention of employees and is justifying his appointment by giving contentions that in wake of vacany of COE any persons out side univeristy could be appointed. Targeting the move by VC, employees asked VC the reason for not appointing COE from the 45 candidates who had applied for the same during recruitment move before post fell vacant. Employees alleged that VC is trying to please the state government which is endosring its own puppet on HPU as COE.
Meanwhile, university also released fresh notification to appoint regular COE yesterday as advertisement has appeared in the media today. This move shows that now VC want to settle the issue early, as it is creating rift between management and employees in the university. The case seems to be fit for court scrutiny but none of them so far has approached the court to end the controversy. In addition, the protest took new turn today when opposition parties Congress and CPI-M came forward in favour of employees and teachers terming the appointment as step to handicap the HPU and recent appointment of COE as step to saffaronisation of elite institution.
Congress State Presidnet Kaul Singh Thakur alleged in a statement issued here on Friday that the new COE is incapable and appointment is saffaronisation of the university and asked the government to recall the officer. Employees and teaching staff were agitating over this issue since last January 9, 2011 to quash the appointment who remained unsatisfied despite two round of talk with VC now. They resolved to go on indefinite strike if their demand is not meant.