Shadow Correspondent
Jammu, Nov 19
In order to express their strong resentment against Ministry of Higher Education, Government of India and Human Resources Department, National Secular Forum (NSF) held protest demonstration today raising slogans against Prof Ashok Aima, Vice Chancellor Central University Jammu for running a reign of favoritism and nepotism to meet his vested interests.
While addressing the activists and students, Dr. Vikas Sharma, State President National Secular Forum (NSF) said that Ministry of Higher Education GOI and Human Resources Department has given a long rope to VC CUJ to run the affairs of University on his whims and vagaries instead of following standard procedures and university rules. He alleged that most of the appointments have been made by university administration by accommodating blue eyed persons out of the way trashing rules and regulations as even faculty members were reportedly elevated to the level of Professor over and above the most competent and eligible persons.
He further stated that huge payment was released in favour of contractors without have done the work on ground for the reasons best known to university authority. He lambasted the Ministry of Higher Education for its failure to initiate action against the functioning of Prof Ashok Aima, VC Central University Jammu.
Dr. Vikas Sharma exposed financial scandal in CUJ regarding construction of Sewerage Treatment Plants (STP). Dr Sharma revealed that CUJ VC Prof Ashok Aima released the full payment of STP 120 KLD which was still not made fully operational and also released the 60 percent payment for another STP of 300 KLD which is not even required.
He said, “The VC committed corruption by releasing the entire payment (over one crore) of STP 120 KLD whereas, the same is not made fully functional. The payment released by the Vice Chancellor is against the norms and comes under the category of corruption. Not only this, he further made a payment of around Rs 2 crore for another STP (300 KLD) which is not even required and was deferred by the University in 2016-17.” Questioning the rationale behind the sanctioning of another STP of 300 KLD capacity and fast track clearing of 60 percent payment, Dr Sharma said that CUJ administration has failed to take up the construction of Academic Block which was most necessary and not the STP but, the Vice Chancellor gave green signal to this STP as he got a hefty amount for sanctioning the same and releasing the payment in fast track manner.
“The classes are being held in the residential quarters of faculty. No proper class rooms and laboratories for the students of Science streams. Hi-fi courses are being announced and MoU are claimed but in reality the condition of campus is pathetic with no facilities for students,” he claimed.
NSF State Chief also said that incumbent Vice Chancellor Prof Ashok Aima ordered release of full payment to the tune of Rs 1.12 crore to the contractor in advance while the allotted work was yet to be completed fully. “The university administration released the complete payment to contractor in lieu of erecting 400 electric poles on the campus. However, the energizing and illumination is yet to be done,” he said.
NSF state Chief Dr Vikas Sharma blamed the incumbent Vice Chancellor Prof. Ashok Aima of downplaying the sentiments of Jammu people who fought hard for the establishment of Central University in Jammu.
“We got this University after a long struggle and had expectations that full-fledged Dogri department will be opened for the promotion of local literature and culture. As if it was underhand manipulation nexus operating between aspiring candidates and university administration under the nose of its Vice Chancellor, Dr Vikas divulged that firstly the selected candidates were made to submit their joining report quickly and surprisingly after ten days of their joining, the selection list of candidates was made public by uploading list in varsity website for the information of candidates
We urge the HRD minister, CUJ Chancellor to take cognizance of this organized loot in the institution and immediately remove the VC from the post so as to save the institution, he said. He also demanded that CBI probe shall be ordered to expose the scams worth crores of rupee in the varsity.
Among those who were present in the protest included Papinder Singh, Manmohan Singh, Pushpinder Singh, Ishtiaq Naik, Anshu Sharma,Surjeet Kumar, Sahil, Sheetal Singh, Varun, Vikas Kumar, and others.
