Srinagar, Apr 12: The administrative delays have left the Government Degree Colleges (GDCs) at the crutches as over 50 Colleges across Jammu and Kashmir are currently functioning without permanent principals as frequent retirements outpace the promotions due to the official wrangles in the department.
An official of the Higher Education Department (HED) said the situation has arisen primarily because promotions of senior professors to the posts of principals are not being processed in time, resulting in newly appointed principals serving only for a few months before their retirement.
“Principals are being appointed very close to their retirement age. In many cases, they serve only six to seven months before retiring,” an official said. He said the department was now facing a fresh wave of vacancies despite posting around 100 college principals last year. According to officials, around 14 principals have retired in the last two months alone, further increasing the number of colleges without permanent heads. At present, the charge of these colleges have been assigned either to principals of nearby institutions or to senior faculty members as in-charge principals. “Currently we have about 50 to 55 colleges that do not have permanent principals at the moment. They are functioning under in-charge heads,” the official said. He however said the HED has initiated the process of filling these positions and has already referred 59 cases of eligible professors to the Public Service Commission (PSC) for selection and promotion to the posts of principals. “We have sent 59 names to the PSC for selection. The process will take some time. Until then, we will continue to manage these collegeS through internal arrangement,” the official said.
He said the department is also preparing a proposal to formally assign additional charge arrangements where vacancies are likely to continue for longer periods. Earlier, such arrangements were made only when the expected vacancy period exceeded six months, but officials said the situation now requires longer interim arrangements.
“Earlier, we would give additional charge if the vacancy was expected to last more than six months. Now the gap is sometimes extending to eight months or even longer, so we are preparing a file to address this,” he added. Citing examples, the official said GDC Langate, GDC Boys Baramulla, GDC Sopore and GDC Hadipora were without permanent heads. “Principal Government College for Women Baramulla is presently holding charge of principal GDC Boys Baramulla. But she is retiring by end of this month,” he said.
Amid the challenging situation, the minister for education Sakina Itoo recently acknowledged the problem and said the department appointed around 100 college principals, but many of them retired within six to seven months. “It is a continuous process. We are working to address all the issues in a phased manner,” she said.
