It seems ‘charge arrangements’, usually a short-term adjustment, have become a permanent feature in Kerala Agricultural University (KAU). Almost all key posts at the varsity are now manned by people in-charge, throwing rules and regulations to the wind, leaving the administration in a shambles.
Posts such as, registrar, comptroller, faculty deans, directors of research, extension and students’ welfare, heads of board of studies, academic council, research council etc., are run by persons holding temporary charge.
According to sources, the post of registrar, administrative head, has been under charge arrangement for more than 15 years. Though the post has to be filled by direct recruitment or deputation as per the university statute, direct recruitment to the post has never happened in the 50-year history of the KAU.
In the case of comptroller, the only post in the KAU in which appointment is done by the State government, a person in the rank of Deputy Secretary or above from the Finance department is posted.
After Sakeer Husein, Additional Secretary, Finance department, was appointed as CEO of Waqf Board, the comptroller post is now under charge arrangement.
Direct recruitment to the posts of faculty deans and directors of research, extension, and students’ welfare, posts recognised as statutory officers by the Act, was last done in 2010 after a gap of 12 years. The major appointment made during the past six years was that of Vice Chancellor and that too is under a cloud after allegations of forged resume.
The statutory bodies of the university such as board of studies, academic council, research council etc., are also run by persons holding temporary charge of deans and directors.
A senior officer said rules and regulations had been bypassed in favour of personal preferences. “Acts, rules, and regulations are ignored and decisions, be it minor or major, depend on the need or mood of the officer concerned. Current scenario is the worst in its 50-year history. The fact is that those in charge arrangements will never talk against the wishes of the political leadership or the Vice Chancellor for fear of losing the chair,” said a source.
“It is true that the key posts in the varsity are in the hands of people in charge arrangements for a long time. Permanent posting is essential for maintaining academic excellence and we have been asking the State government to stop this practice,” Denny C.V., secretary of the KAU Employees Association, a pro-Left outfit, said.
