CUJ violates reservation roster, Vice-Chancellor under scanner

In a major embarrassment for the Central University of Jammu, National Commission for Scheduled Tribes and National Commission for Scheduled Caste have issued notices to the Vice-Chancellor of the University. The notices were issued by the commissions acting on the complaints that University allegedly changed the status of reservation for the posts of Assistant Professors, Associate Professors, and Professors in a number of disciplines. 

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The same positions for which the allegations are being made were advertised sometimes as Un-Reserved and sometimes as any of the category positions like SC/ST/OBC. The cognizance was taken by the commissions as this manipulating of Roster will put the career of thousands of aspirants from the reserved categories at stake.

Change of posts

In the Department of Zoology, both the reserved posts of SC and ST for Associate Professor have been converted into Un-Reserved posts. In the Department of Nano Science and Materials, Un-Reserved post of Associate Professor has been converted into reserved for ST while in the Department of Physics and Astronomical Sciences, the reserved post of Associate Professor for ST, has been converted into Un-Reserved. In the Department of Educational Studies, one Un-Reserved post of Assistant Professor has been converted into reserved one for the ST.

In the notice issued by both the Commissions, Vice-Chancellor of the University has been asked to reply within 15 days on the alleged violation of the reservation policy and the safeguards of the candidates of the reserved categories. Failing to reply in 15 days' time, Commission said that it may exercise the powers of civil court conferred on it under Clause (8) of Article 338A of the Constitution of India and issue a summons for the appearance in person before the Commission. 

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University Roster for appointments of the staff is approved by the University Council as per the procedure put in place by the Government of India and thus advertisement is made accordingly, the status of the positions contrary to approved roster cannot be changed by the Vice-Chancellor or anyone else on his own or without approval from the competent authority. Fiddling with the roster is the criminal act of irregularity. However, as the University has now conducted the interviews of the candidates based on the fiddled roster.

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