Qureshi rejects search panel recommendations on VC

Dehradun: Departing from tradition, Uttarakhand Governor Aziz Qureshi has turned down the recommendations of a government panel on the appointment of GB Pant Agriculture University Vice Chancellor. Expressing dissatisfaction with the names of three candidates suggested by the search committee, Qureshi said he would like to see the entire list of applicants for the post before taking a final call on the matter.

"I have received the three names shortlisted by the search committee. But I have sought the list of all the 100 odd applicants from the panel to see who were rejected and on what grounds," Qureshi told reporters at Raj Bhawan on Thursday. The search committee headed by state Agriculture Minister Harak Singh Rawat submitted its shortlist of three names to the governor late last year but is still awaiting his approval for one of the names suggested by the panel. Tradition has it that the governor picks up one of the names suggested by the panel for appointment as VC. However, asserting that his effort is to restore the esteemed university to its past glory, he said the Vice Chancellor`s post will not remain vacant for long. "I have always wanted this great institution to return to its past glory. I heard that its hostels were not in good condition, that educational standards had also suffered over the years. "I appointed temporary VCs like present Chief Secretary Subhash Kumar and his predecessor Alok Jain who did a wonderful job but total cure would not be possible until a full time VC is appointed," he said.