Direct state gov’t to follow UGC norm:KNGCSU

By Our Reporter

SHILLONG, AUG 7: The Kiang Nangbah Government College Students’ Union (KNGCSU) has sought the intervention of the Centre for directing the state government to follow the University Grants Commission (UGC) criteria for appointing principal in government colleges.

In a letter to the Union Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javadekar, KNGCSU general secretary Justice Paul Lyngdoh said, “it’s high time now that the State Government avoid seniority basis and follow UGC criteria for appointing Government College Principal so that the appointed Principal can serve the college for at least 2 or 3 years and above.”

He said that the Government of Meghalaya at present appoints College Principal on the basis of seniority but not as per the UGC Regulations.

“Because of this seniority basis, some the appointed Principal of the College remains in Office as the Principal for only 3 months and some have only 4 or 5 or 6 months and so on,” Lyngdoh said.

According to him, this has created a lot of problems and it has also affected the smooth functioning of the College.

Citing an example, he said, “Currently I am a student of Kiang Nangbah Government College, Jowai. Now I am studying B. A. Third Semester. Just within this short period (i.e. 1st, 2nd and 3rd Semester) the College has already had two Principal.”

He also stated that the present Principal was appointed this year only (i.e. 2017) and he is going to retired this month (August, 2017). He had served in this college as a Principal for just 4-5 months time.

As per reliable information, Lyngdoh said this case happened in almost all the government colleges in the state. Meghalaya has altogether 6 government colleges.

Further, the Union leader alleged that till date the Directorate of Higher and Technical Education, Government of Meghalaya, has not followed the UGC Eligibility Criteria for the appointment of College Principal.

“Therefore, for smooth functioning of the government colleges in the state, I request you to look into this matter, so that the Government of Meghalaya follows the rule and regulation of UGC in appointing the College Principal in all the government colleges,” he stated.