Gujarat University (GU) is the state’s largest university. Yet, top posts like vice chancellor, registrar, controller of examination and chief librarian are being manned by in-charge officials. There have been no takers for these.
Following the resignation of former V-C Adesh Pal, the state education department was forced to appoint pro-VC Mukul Shah as the acting VC. The varsity has been doing without a full-time registrar for the last few years and at least five candidates have been appointed as in-charge registrar. But all of them quit the post.
Despite the approval of recruiting a chief librarian, there have been no takers for the post even after issuing advertisements several times. In fact, the GU authorities had almost selected a candidate for the post of full-time registrar after conducting a rigorous search not less than three times. But those shortlisted refused to accept the charge citing personal reasons. “One of the prime reasons for the lack of interest in taking up the job at the GU headquarters is that officials have to deal with extreme political interference. Many in-charge registrars chose to quit as not only political leaders but even student leaders threatened them over several issues. Why would any academician take up such a stressful job when they could comfortably continue teaching for a higher salary?” said a senior GU official. Many a time, officials have even been caught in the BJP-Congress crossfire in core committees like academic and executive councils.
One of the in-charge registrars who quit the post vented his frustration saying: “You just can’t work for students or the university here. For, a certain group will always be pointing fingers at you. So, why would officials become victims of a political war between two parties?” No wonder, funds from the University Grants Commission (UGC) for both academic and non-academic works — worth crores — have reached GU. Normally, tender work and necessary allocation of funds would have begun. Yet, that has not happened as a full-time registrar is yet to be appointed. In fact, there are dozens of pending work at GU as it struggles to retain officials at crucial posts.
Shah said it is because of changed UGC norms that the varsity has failed to get a full-time chief librarian. “The university will anyway start recruitement for the posts. It is not for long that the posts will be managed by in-charge officials,” he said. The varsity would also start the process of forming a three-member search panel by appointing one member at the executive council meeting on Thursday.
Following the resignation of former V-C Adesh Pal, the state education department was forced to appoint pro-VC Mukul Shah as the acting VC. The varsity has been doing without a full-time registrar for the last few years and at least five candidates have been appointed as in-charge registrar. But all of them quit the post.
Despite the approval of recruiting a chief librarian, there have been no takers for the post even after issuing advertisements several times. In fact, the GU authorities had almost selected a candidate for the post of full-time registrar after conducting a rigorous search not less than three times. But those shortlisted refused to accept the charge citing personal reasons. “One of the prime reasons for the lack of interest in taking up the job at the GU headquarters is that officials have to deal with extreme political interference. Many in-charge registrars chose to quit as not only political leaders but even student leaders threatened them over several issues. Why would any academician take up such a stressful job when they could comfortably continue teaching for a higher salary?” said a senior GU official. Many a time, officials have even been caught in the BJP-Congress crossfire in core committees like academic and executive councils.
One of the in-charge registrars who quit the post vented his frustration saying: “You just can’t work for students or the university here. For, a certain group will always be pointing fingers at you. So, why would officials become victims of a political war between two parties?” No wonder, funds from the University Grants Commission (UGC) for both academic and non-academic works — worth crores — have reached GU. Normally, tender work and necessary allocation of funds would have begun. Yet, that has not happened as a full-time registrar is yet to be appointed. In fact, there are dozens of pending work at GU as it struggles to retain officials at crucial posts.
Shah said it is because of changed UGC norms that the varsity has failed to get a full-time chief librarian. “The university will anyway start recruitement for the posts. It is not for long that the posts will be managed by in-charge officials,” he said. The varsity would also start the process of forming a three-member search panel by appointing one member at the executive council meeting on Thursday.
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