Umbrella of 4 Universities to oppose recruitment through JKPSC, JKSSB

The umbrella of four Universities have gone against the Jammu and Kashmir Public Universities Bill 2022, which states that the appointment to any post in all universities would be filled by Public Service Commission (JKPSC) and Service Selection Recruitment Board (SSRB). Before the formulation of Jammu and Kashmir Public Universities Bill 2022, the appointment was being done at the university level.

Official sources said that four Universities viz Jammu University, Kashmir University, SKUAST Jammu and SKUAST Kashmir have up their arms against the Jammu and Kashmir Government’s move which has proposed the appointments through JKSSB and JKPSC.

For resistance, the members of all the four Universities have formed a committee namely ‘Joint Action Committee’ which has professors, non teaching and clerical staff. Prominent among them include JUTA President Professor Pankaj Shrivastav, Professor Ravinder Singh, Professor Manoj Bhat, Rakesh Chib, Yudhvir and Professor Vikas Sharma, Jameer Hul Haq and Amitesh Sharma from SKUAST Jammu and SKUAST Kashmir.

“We are against the Jammu and Kashmir Public Universities (JKPU) Bill 2022 as it is a controversial one and is effecting the autonomy and act of the respective Universities. Moreover, it has bureaucratic interference, hence should be removed”, JUTA President Professor Pankaj Shrivastav told The News Now when contacted.

According to the Jammu and Kashmir Public Universities Bill 2022, “Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force or any contract, customs, or usage to the contrary, all universities established and regulated under the Act shall refer all Open and Direct posts of officer cadre and all teachers and equivalent positions in their universities to the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC) for an all India advertisement and screening.”

Stating the provisions regarding eligibility, manner of appointment etc. to posts in the university, the bill reads, “The minimum qualification and eligibility for appointment to any post in the university shall be as provided for by the UGC regulations and regulations of other regulatory bodies governing such appointments.”

“Every post referred to the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission by the public universities shall be processed on a fast-track basis and the entire process from advertisement to screening shall be completed within three months,” it reads.

The Jammu and Kashmir Public Universities Bill 2022 also reads, “Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, the promotions under the Career Advancement Scheme (CAS) of teachers, officer cadre, and equivalent positions shall be dealt with by the University.”

It also said that notwithstanding anything contained in this act, appointments to all positions including teaching positions and equivalent positions, positions in the officer or non-teaching cadre and equivalent positions, or any other positions of the Higher Education Department of the government shall be governed and regulated by the Department of the Government entrusted with the subject of Higher Education.

About the screening test, the bill reads that the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission shall conduct a screening process in the following manner for all applicants or candidates except those applying for the posts of professor and equivalent positions.

“The screening process shall comprise a written test and an evaluation of the Academic Record and Research Performance or Academic Record, Qualifications, background and experience of the candidate,” it reads.
It also reads that the written test shall comprise a compulsory general studies paper common to all subjects and faculties and a subject-specific paper depending on the position applied for. “Provided that the weightage accorded to the general studies paper shall not be less than 15 percent of the total weightage accorded to the written examination.”

The syllabus of the papers above stated shall be as prescribed by the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission.

The academic record and research performance or academic record, qualifications, background, and experience of the candidate shall be evaluated based on a set of transparent criteria to be notified by the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission.

The criterion shall be as far as possible based on the advice, guidelines and regulations issued by the UGC and other regulatory bodies from time to time.

“Based on the results of the written screening test and the academic record and research performance or academic record, qualifications, background, and experience score sheet of the candidate, the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission shall recommend candidates in the ratio of 1:4 for Personal Interview/lecture demonstration and final selection by the concerned University,” it reads.