Kurukshetra University officials, students irked over appointment of regular VC

KURUKSHETRA: The Kurukshetra University (KU) student, scholars, and officials have expressed their displeasure over delay in the appointment of regular vice-chancellor (VC) and in conduction of terminal semester examinations.
In the absence of a regular leader, the varsity is struggling to make firm decisions about important issues, said officials.
Some students and scholars of the varsity said they are in the situation of uncertainty about their examinations of terminal semesters.
They said, "It seems that higher education is not a priority for the state government as thousands of students are in a situation of uncertainty about the final examinations. In a meeting headed by ad-hoc KU VC, the Haryana government decision of not holding terminal exams was endorsed in a hasty manner on June 24 and now the University Grants Commission (UGC) has asked to hold the exams. This is a sign of mismanagement at KU and students have been left in uncertainty".
Former vice-president of KU campus students executive council (KUCSEC) Namita Nandal said, "The final year students are in uncertainty about the examinations. It is already too late for this session and the varsity or state government should take a final decision at the earliest. At this stage, it is not feasible to hold exams due to the Covid-19 outbreak and students should be promoted. It is important for the university to have a regular VC, as the post takes key decisions firmly".
KU deputy director public relations Deepak Rai said, "KU will endorse whatever directions are received from the director-general higher education (DGHE)".
Haryana DGHE Ajit Balaji Joshi told TOI, "We have sought comments from the universities about the process that how will they conduct the terminal exams. The comments are expected soon and we will start the procedure then. As the UGC has issued the guidelines, so we would surely hold the examinations".
On June 19, the executive council (EC) of KU nominated two members of the search committee for the appointment of regular VC, including GJUST, Hisar VC Prof Tankeshwar Kumar and DCRUST, Murthal VC Prof Rajenderkumar Anayath and the third member was to be appointed by the Haryana governor.
Sources said on July 14, Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) VC prof Sikander Kumar has been nominated as the third member of the panel for finding new VC for KU, by Haryana Governor.
About 70 applications, including about 10-15 from KU, for the post of VC, have been received by the government before the last date of July 10 and the panel is still to select the eligible and meritorious candidate to lead the varsity.