Controversy breaks out in University of Kashmir accommodation as admin plays favouritism

The accommodation facility for both the teaching and non-teaching employees at the University of Kashmir has proved to be a point of controversy as there are allegations that the deserving ones are left out while others are benefitting from the scheme. According to the sources, a Professor of Earth Sciences was provided accommodation even though the Professor was lagging behind in the eligibility line. The Professor to the residential quarter in the night. This quarter was allotted to a Professor of the Department of Statistics. The upset Professor has requested Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Chancellor of the University of Kashmir, to look into the matter. Sources raised questions on the usefulness of having an accommodation committee at the varsity when the deserving academicians or non-teaching staff do not get the accommodation. There were violations in the past too but no action has been taken ever. Sources alleged that a Joint Registrar was provided a Professor quarter even though he didn’t deserve it. When the Joint Registrar was posted to Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University (BGSBU) Rajouri, he did not pay anything for House Rent Allowance (HRA) towards the University of Kashmir. Sources said that in another case, an Assistant Professor of Social Sciences rents accommodation in Habak while the University provided two of his colleagues accommodation in main campus & Mirza Bagh campus. They got the post of wardens of Boys & Girls hostels. Administration said that since they are wardens, so they were allotted accommodation. Sources said that another Assistant Professor who got the post in SKUAST in February 2020 had access to free accommodation in the Mirza Bagh. Sources are of the opinion that a committee should be constituted with a purpose to look into these. A lady doctor has been allotted an Associate Professors Quarter while, according to the rules, she should get lecturer’s flat. Over 50 teachers are renting accommodation outside the campus and are waiting for their allotment. Sources allege that nepotism and favouritism have corrupted the procedure. Sources also cite that a non-teaching employee staff quarter adjacent to the Jammu & Kashmir Bank was allotted to an employee who was not eligible for it. A Class IV employee has been provided a Class III quarter in the main campus. There is a significant number of class IV employees who retired earlier but are still residing in the quarters when more than 100 employees are waiting for their allotment. These people are residing outside the campus and renting accommodation.