Prof. Mattoo appointed ineligible Controller of Exams
S.K. Bhalla
There are several complaints that have been received at Raj Bhawan and the Chief Minister's office regarding administrative impropriety, favouritism, financial irregularities against the Vice Chancellors and other officers of the University of Jammu.
After examining these complaints, Department of Higher Education put up a note to the then Chief Minister who ordered an enquiry by a team of senior officers led by the Chief Secretary with Principal Secretary Planning, Commissioner Secretary Finance and Higher Education Department to go specifically into serious charges.
As promised in my column published on Wednesday, Public Civil Vigilance Cell J&K (CVC) is reproducing the article of charges and report of the enquiry committee for public information
Charge 1.1 reads “Registrar P. S. Pathania who was a school teacher till 1996 and does not have either the required eligibility-55% marks in M. Sc. Zoology or the requisite 15-year of Administrative experience to hold the post and has managed his selection as Controller of Examination through Prof. Amitab Mattoo on the basis of M. Ed. Degree which being a one year course is not a post-graduate degree is not at all worth the post”.
Observation and recommendation of enquiry committee
“….While recommending the appointment of Mr. Pathania, the selection committee had, however observed that he does not in toto meet the requirements of administrative experience. When the matter went before the University Council on 21.04.2006, it was decided that the recommendation be put up with facts/details to the Hon'ble Chancellor for final decision on behalf of the University Council….”
- S. Pathania was appointed Controller of Examination, a key and coveted position in the University on 15th January, 2006. The then Vice Chancellor, Prof Amitab Mattoo smartly blunted the objections with regards to Pathania's deficient experience and qualifications and re-submitted his case by misrepresenting some UGC clarifications of 8th June, 2006 to the Chancellor and got the approval on 3.7.2006 to his illegal action by manipulation. The self serving interpretation of the UGC rules were used nearly six months after Pathania was already got appointed.
Pathania's experiences as Research Associate and his being Special Assistant to VC were clubbed together and taken as Administrative Experience to justify his eligibility to the post.
On this point the committee observed, “It is the moot question that whether the University could have gone in for fresh advertisement to seek a candidate who fulfilled the eligibility criteria unambiguously.”
More information will be shared with the readers on other charges in forthcoming write-ups.
