Dozens of degree colleges without permanent heads

Srinagar, May 15: Dozens of Government Degree Colleges (GDCs) across J&K are functioning without permanent principals, while several senior faculty members acting as in-charge principals have not been vested with Drawing and Disbursing Officer (DDO) powers, triggering an administrative and financial crisis in the higher education institutions. A top official told Greater Kashmir that the crisis have erupted as the frequent retirements of college principals outpace the promotions due to the official wrangles in the department.

“Several College Principals attained superannuation in the last few months due to which several colleges are without permanent principals,” an official of the Higher Education Department (HED) told Greater Kashmir.

He said the situation has arisen primarily because promotions of senior professors to the posts of principals are not being processed in time, resulting in newly appointed principals serving only for a few months before their retirement. “Principals are being appointed very close to their retirement age. In many cases, they serve only six to seven months before retiring,” an official said.

The official said the vacancies have persisted in many colleges for nearly three months which has severely affected the functioning of institutions and delaying key official processes. In the absence of authorised DDOs, salaries of teaching and non-teaching staff have not been released in several colleges, leaving employees without pay for months. “The situation has caused widespread concern among staff members, particularly with Eid approaching. Many employees are facing financial hardship and are struggling to meet basic household and festival-related expenses,” a group of aggrieved employees told Greater Kashmir.

They said the lack of permanent administrative heads (principals) in colleges also disrupt routine official work in including processing of scholarships, utilisation of funds, maintenance works, procurement procedures, and official correspondence. “The continued administrative vacuum is adversely affecting institutional governance and the academic environment in these colleges,” they said.

Among the colleges functioning without permanent principals are Government Degree College Khansahib, Government Degree College for Women Baramulla, Government Degree College Baramulla and Government Degree College Chrar-e-Shareef, besides several other institutions. The employees and faculty members have urged the Higher Education Department (HED) and the education minister to appoint regular principals and grant DDO powers to in-charge principals to restore normal functioning in colleges which will ensure timely release of salaries and smooth functioning of the institutions.

Already reported by this newspaper, minister for education, Sakina Itoo earlier acknowledged the problem and said the department appointed around 100 college principals, but many of them retired within six to seven months. “It is a continuous process. We are working to address all the issues in a phased manner. The headless colleges will soon get the principals,” she said. A top official in HED told Greater Kashmir that the department has prepared a list of 100 senior professors for their appointment as the college principals. “We have also taken consent from several senior professors for their role as college principals. The issue is under consideration and all these colleges will get permanent principals in the shortest possible time,” the official said.