Srinagar: Deans of different faculties at Kashmir University have expressed strong resentment over the appointment of
Professor Shakil Ahmad Romshoo of Department of Earth Sciences University of Kashmir as new Dean Research of the Varsity.
Sources told KNT that a meeting of Deans Committee was held under the Chairmanship of Prof Akbar Masood in which deans of different faculties alleged that incumbent Vice Chancellor flouted all the rules and made this appointment on personal basis.
Sources added that during the meeting some of the deans while questioning the appointment of Prof Shakil Romshoo said that how come this appointment has taken and why the senior most professors were bypassed.
Sources said that senior most professors like Prof. Shabir Ahmed Bhat, Prof. Farooq Masoodi, Prof. Mehmood Ahmed Khan, Prof. Khursheed Ahmed Bhat who have served at various important positions and have contributed immensely towards the corporate life of the university have been ignored deliberately. It is also learnt that the senior professors may take up the matter with the Chancellor of the University.
“The Vice Chancellor flouted all the rules. Seniority mattered the most in this regard. The convention is that a senior most professor is appointed as Dean Research and when seniority is not taken account, the post was simply advertised and professors were interviewed by a selection committee. But this time, all the rules were flouted and nobody was taken into confidence before making such an important appointment,” said a couple of Professors to KNT on condition of anonymity.
They alleged that Vice Chancellor Talat Ahmed made this appointment because the duo has some project interests. “Both are running some joint projects. In order to defend and protect the interests, VC appointed its own man,” they said.
Pertinently, as per an order issued by the University, Professor Shakil Ahmad Romshoo Department of Earth Sciences has been nominated by vice chancellor to function as Dean Research for a period of three years from May 13, 2020.
Professor Romshoo has research interests including in Hydrology, Glaciology, Geoinformatics and Climate Change. (KNT)