Stop Saffronisation of Himachal Pradesh University

Press release/dated:-21st January,2010

The Himachal Pradesh state secretariat of the CPIM has warned the government to immediately stop the saffronisation of the Himachal Pradesh University and  call back the newly appointed Controller of Examination (COE) to his eligible post. The government it seems has not learnt any lesson from the  past failures and is determined to repeat them just to get its own ideologically  moored men into the top posts despite the fact that such people do not even have the essential qualifications. The CPIM has stated, the post of COE is a sensitive one with impeccable integrity to the institution and not to the ideology.  Since recent past the COEs have faced the brunt of their ineptness and many a times the exams for different streams had to be refixed or redone. The case of CPMT is the classical one. Appointing a COE with strong ideological affinity would further worsen the situation the CPIM feels. 

Secondly the party has stated, the  university is an autonomous body and the appointments must be done according to the statute and the ordinances that have been prepared and amended in due course of time.  The HPU ordinance clause 27.5 categorically states the eligibility criteria for the post of COE. It states, quote, “ Masters degree in any faculty with five years’ experience as a Principal in a college affiliated to or maintained by the University”.Unquote The rider clearly states that the eligibility is at least 5 years experience as Principal of a college that is affiliated with HPU. Whereas the incumbent COE happens to be  not even 5 months in office as Principal of Rajkiya Kanya Maha Vidyalaya , Shimla. 

The CPIM has further stated, the university belongs to its community that comprises of the teachers, employees and the students. All these three sections have most vehemently opposed the appointment of the present COE for the aforesaid reasons. Not just that all the elected bodies including that of the employees, teachers union and students are agitating and demanding the recall of the COE. The BJP must respect this sentiment of the university community and place the COE at his actual post.

Tikender Singh Panwar

Member State Secretariat