Jammu: Central University of Jammu today
finally got its first Vice Chancellor as former state Chief
Secretary Sudhir Singh Bloeria assumed the charge after a
delay of two years following a controversy.
The Union Human Resource Development Ministry issued an
order regarding Bloeria's appointment as Vice Chancellor of
the CUJ for a term of three years.
Bloeria, an IAS officer of J&K cadre, is also an ex-Army
officer having served in the Infantry Battalion in Jammu and
Kashmir Rifles from 1966 to 1972. He took part in the 1971 war
against Pakistan.
The CUJ was caught in a controversy as some political,
social and community organisations demanded appointment of
local Dogra as the VC, while opposing the appointment of Prof
Amitabh Mattoo for the post in 2010. Mattoo had turned down
offer.
However, several organisations - BJP, JKNPP, BSP, JPPF,
JJSF, NPSU, ABVP, PDP, Students, Trade & Industries organisation
besides Bar Association were protesting against the failure of
appointment of VC for the past two months.
CUJ along with 15 other Central universities, including
Kashmir Central university, was announced in 2009. While all
other universities are functional and in 2nd year of their
academic session, the CUJ is yet to operationalise.
The BJP had threatened to launch an agitation across the
Jammu region if the Central University Jammu is not made
functional by August 25, while a hunger strike by a public
forum today entered 15th day in support of the demand.
Bloeria is an alumnus of the Scindia School Gwalior. He
holds a Masters Degree in History, and acquired PhD Degree
from his thesis on The Battles of Zojila-1948.
He is graduate from the National Defence College, New
Delhi.
His last assignment was Chief Secretary of J&K
government from November 2002 till his superannuation in
September 2005.
PTI
First Published: Monday, August 08, 2011, 20:31