GNS ONLINE JAMMU
JAMMU MAY 16 :–The National Students Welfare Association (NSWA) J&K has showed concern over the alleged misappropriation of Rs 12 Crore TEQIP project in Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University (BGSBU) and appointments of different employees who gained employment by producing off campus degrees on the basis of which selections are made defying the directions of Honable High court, General Adminstration Department and Higher education department has put the university in credibility crisis.
While talking to GNS ONLINE Sadaket Malik chairman NSWA said that
“All this has put a question mark on the ivory tower image of the reputed seat of learning. He said that in the audit report of the Jammu and Kashmir government too regarding Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University (BGSBU) Rajouri, revealed violation of norms done during execution of works by the University.
As far as the allegations of gaining employment on basis of off campus Distance degrees are concerned Malik added that the government order revealed from time to time that “The degree obtained through distance education mode from off-campuses which have been established by the state universities beyond their territorial jurisdiction shall not be recognized”. Inspite of the clear cut directions some tainted employees appointed on such degrees in BGSBU. This exposes the tall claims of transparency and accountability.
NSWA head said that In 2012 the order of the J&K High Court questioned hundreds of government employees in Jammu and Kashmir as they have gained employment or promotions based on the qualifications obtained through distance mode of off campuses.
It is worthwhile to mention here that
Degrees awarded by IGNOU, DOEACC and Maulana Azad National Urdu University`s (MANUU) have been held valid from time to time. He said thatIn 2015 the police claimed to have arrested an employee accused in the Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah Unversity scholarship scheme a clerk associated with the scholarship branch, had been evading arrest ever since the scam was unearthed.
A clerk and a J&K Bank employee, had allegedly committed a fraud worth about Rs 17 lakh. The associated said that
In 2018, High Court has stayed the appointment of Assistant Registrar appointed through backdoor in Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University and issued notice to Registrar of the varsity appointed AR on temporary basis vide office memo No. BGSBU/Estb/18/339 dated 03-05-2018. This was challenged through a writ petition titled Sarfraz Bukhari Versus Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University and Others.
Counsels for the petitioner Advocate Abhinav Sharma and Advocate Ahsaan Mirza submitted that for the appointment of two Assistant Registrars BGSBU Rajouri on 06-09-2013 issued Advertisement No. BGSBU/ ESTAB/13/7590-7609 and in response to that hundreds of eligible candidates filled forms including the petitioner.
“Instead of completing the selection process Vice Chancellor BGSBU just to appease the then Ministers vide no BGSBU/Estb/ 18/339 dated 03-05-2018 the said employee was later demoted.
In research aspect too the university is being alleged that In november 2020
The condidates who had applied for admissions in PhD at Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University (BGSBU) Rajouri on alleged discrepancies in selection of the p.hd candidates.
In 2023 the major Research bundling surfaced and Lieutenant Governor, J&K ordered probe into the alleged large-scale financial irregularities in the varsity, especially in the bungling of Rs 12 Crore TEQIP project.
All such irregularities togther with the alleged backdoor appointments of clerks on the basis of Distance degrees of off campus has put a question mark on its ivory tower image.
These irregularities demand for an independent Higher education regulator in Jammu and Kashmir to end the nexus and save the ivory tower image of this seat of learning.
NSWA has demanded the establishment of independent regulatory commission which is imperative to regulate the higher education institutions in Jammu and Kashmir. The J&K Government need to identify such loopholes to ensure accountability and transparency in the HEIs of the Jammu and Kashmir for the quality educational landscape another NSWA spokesmen Sarfaraz Ahmed said.
