‘Illegal’ appointments in Sumbal College: IMRAN MUZAFFAR Srinagar: A distinguished lecturer in Bandipora district has received death threats after he blew the whistle over more than two dozen illegal appointments, reportedly made at the behest of a State Minister in Government Degree College Sumbal. Dr Mehraj-ud-din Parey, a known political science teacher from Hajin town, had been critical of the illegal appointment of at least 27 persons in the college from the very beginning, he said. On Friday, an envelope was dispatched to him that carried his transfer order to border area of Gurez. “It is pure vengeance,” he told Greater Kashmir. “The order is an open retribution. The worse is that I am getting death threats from those who have been benefited by these illegal appointments.” In 2007, Dr Parey was transferred to Kargil just because he was critical of administration that danced to the tunes of local Member of Legislative Assembly. The life threat to Dr Parey has set off a wave of anger among students in the college. The students boycotted classes on Wednesday in solidarity with the lecturer and have planned to go for an indefinite strike against harassment meted out to their teacher. Dr Parey revealed to Greater Kashmir that the college authorities have over the period of two years appointed 27 politically-backed persons on local fund basis, in violation of norms. He said Rs 1.25 lakh go on the salary of these persons per month, impeding development of the college. The stark reality of the college, he said, was that students have no laboratory, drinking water, medical aid or other basic facilities. “The height of ignorance and political intervention is such that students in Science subject are yet to do a practical in absence of equipments in the laboratory,” he said, adding, the priority for college authorities is to appoint workers of political parties. It is no system. It is total anarchy.” Dr Parey’s mother suffers from chronic kidney failure and his father is bed-ridden after he met with an accident seven years back. Civil society members in the neighborhood have taken serious note of the harassment meted out to the lecturer and have decided to launch a campaign against this “unruly” phenomenon which, according to them, has distorted the map of education in the area. Dr Muzaffar Ahmad Khan, Principal of Degree College Sumbal, said 25 persons in the college were hired on need-basis on the recommendations of “local representatives.” He, however, didn’t name the “local representatives.” “Nobody has appointed these persons. They have been hired on need-basis on the recommendations of local representatives. They are must to run affairs of the college.” Muhammad Akbar Lone, Higher Education Minister and MLA Sonawari, said appointments have been made on need basis and that he had no role in transfer of the lecturer. “I am not concerned about transfers,” he said. “I will tell my secretary if something like this has happened.” About the life threat to the lecturer and anger in students, he said, “I can’t stop anybody from boycotting the classes. But at the same time, they must approach me with their grievances.” Dr Mehraj, however said, he would file an FIR against the minister for threatening him and sought an investigation into the illegal appointments which he said have plagued the college.
Posted on: Sat, 07 Jun 2014 05:10:48 +0000
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