Published On : Tue, Aug 26th, 2014

Experts pitch for appointing regular RTMNU VC as enforcement of Assembly Poll Code looms

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Nagpur News

The Chair of Vice Chancellor at the Great Rashtrasant Tukdoji Maharaj Nagpur University (RTMNU) is lying vacant since Sunday the March 30 when the then incumbent Dr Vilas Sapkal quit the post in a huff. Dr Sapkal quit the post owing to some pressing problems and for various reasons. The appointment of new Vice Chancellor has already been delayed and the impending of Code of Conduct to be enforced for forthcoming Assembly elections is likely to make further delay. Apart from the education suffering the maximum brunt, other day-to-day affairs of RTMNU are going haywire sans regular Vice Chancellor.

However, now the demand to fill up the post before Code of Conduct comes into force is gaining momentum. At present, Acting Vice Chancellor Anoop Kumar is ruling the roost. But the experts are blaming him of handling the crucial matters in a slipshod manner and on the other hand, the Acting VC has been claiming of smooth working of the University.

The Acting Vice Chancellor Anoop Kumar is running the affairs of Rashtrasant Tukdoji Maharaj Nagpur University apart from being Divisional Commissioner. The circumstances in which Dr Sapkal quit the VC’s post have become history. But new chapters of same description are being added on almost daily basis.

A Vice Chancellor has to deal with administration as well as education in a lively manner and this liveliness is expected from a full-fledged head. An acting boss will only act when the need arises. The negligent attitude of Government towards education has been more revealing as new academic session has got started and a flurry of happenings are being witnessed vis-à-vis admissions, affiliations and tribulations, too. But still there are no visible signs that would indicate a regular Vice Chancellor coming to RTMNU shortly.

According to rules, the process for appointment of new Vice Chancellor should start three months before the present incumbent demits office after completion of tenure. Government invites applications from aspirants by publishing advertisements in newspapers. Thereafter, a joint meeting of Academic Council and Management Council has to be convened in which the university selects a candidate for inclusion in Vice Chancellor’s Search Panel. Governor appoints a former judge as Chairman of Search Panel while Government appoints an Administrative Officer as Secretary of the Search Panel. Once the Search Panel is full, it scans applications received from aspirants for post of Vice Chancellor. Initially, 10 candidates are listed out and they are called to Mumbai for interviews and interactions. After these formalities are completed, the Search Panel selects names of five candidates for the post of Vice Chancellor. These five candidates are then called by Governor for personal interviews and after that one of the candidates is finally appointed as Vice Chancellor.

However, if the Government bogs down in the intricacies of rules and regulations and takes its own time to appoint a regular Vice Chancellor then the education scenario could easily be imagined. The scenario would certainly be hazy and murkier. Dr Vilas Sapkal quit Vice Chancellor’s post on March 31, 2014, more than four months ago, but even the process for appointment of new VC has not been started yet.

The Acting Vice Chancellor Anoop Kumar said that his main focus is on holding the Convocation Ceremony on time in September so that the students are not put to academic losses. Moreover, other important works have to be looked into that could help in running the RTMNU affairs smoothly. In fact, since his taking the reins of the university, every work is being done in accordance with the rules and regulations, claimed Anoop Kumar.
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