RAJ KUMAR
Ranchi, Dec.14: Vice-chancellors of Kolhan University, Chaibasa and Nilamber Pitamber University (NPU), Medininagar are under the scanner of the state higher education department for their negative role during 18th meeting of Higher Education Council held in the Jharkhand capital.
In the meeting, where these two vice-chancellors were special invitees, presented a sorry figure of the university when RUSA national convenor cum joint secretary of the University Grant Commission (UGC) was present as a representative of the union HRD ministry.
During the meeting when the discussion was on for preparation of the plan for coming years, these vice-chancellors raised problems with their universities and said that due to these problems they did not upload self-study reports (SSR) for NAAC evaluation.
When contacted, Higher Education Secretary K.K.Khandelwal for his comment he without going into the details of the matter said the ‘problem of universities often comes to his knowledge.’
Kolhan University vice-chancellor Gangadhar Panda suggested contacting his university spokesperson P.K.Pani on any university-related matter when contacted for his comment over the phone.
When contacted spokesperson Pani, he also without going into the details of the matter, said: “SSR will be uploaded by December 22.”
However, an official letter from the office of higher education secretary Khandelwal supports the fact. In the letter, the entire episode is clearly described and it has been categorically mentioned that their statements during the meeting were ‘irrelevant’ and ‘hurdle in the development of higher education in the state.’
Through the letter, vice-chancellors were made aware that UGC in 2016 had provided Rs 20 crore to KU for the development of infrastructure though the NAAC has given ‘C’ grade’ to KU. Apart from this, the letter also apprised them that despite poor infrastructure several colleges got grants from UGC.
