Bilaspur : A controversy is brewing at Guru Ghasidas Central University (GGU) in Bilaspur over the appointment of Heads of Departments (HODs). Several faculty members have expressed dissatisfaction, alleging that junior associate and assistant professors have been assigned HOD responsibilities despite the presence of senior professors in their departments.

The issue has drawn attention because GGU is the only Central University in Chhattisgarh and operates under the Union Ministry of Education. As a central institution, appointments and administrative decisions are expected to strictly follow university ordinances and UGC regulations.

However, in recent years, several HOD appointments have raised concerns among faculty members regarding seniority norms and transparency.

The appointment of Heads of Departments at Guru Ghasidas University is governed by Ordinance-75, which lays down clear provisions regarding eligibility and procedure. The key rules include:

1. HOD appointments should normally be made from among Professors on the basis of seniority and rotation, with a usual tenure of three years.
2. If a department does not have a Professor, the HOD may be appointed from among Associate Professors based on seniority, generally for two years or until a Professor is appointed.
3. If neither Professors nor Associate Professors are available, the senior-most Assistant Professor may be given the responsibility on a temporary basis.
4. If appointing the senior-most faculty member is considered not in the best interest of the department, the Vice-Chancellor may appoint the next eligible Professor or Associate Professor with the approval of the Executive Council.
5. The ordinance also grants the Vice-Chancellor special authority to appoint a Professor or Associate Professor as HOD in the interest of the university.

Faculty discussions within the university suggest that the principle of seniority and rotation may not have been followed in several departments.

In the Civil Engineering Department, Assistant Professor Dr. Ashish Parashar was earlier appointed HOD despite the presence of senior professors including Prof. Shailendra Kumar, Dr. M.C. Rao and Dr. R.K. Chauthe.

In the Commerce Department, Associate Professor Dr. Munshi Ram was appointed HOD even though senior professors such as Prof. Muvana Chektraman, Prof. Budheshwar Singreel and Prof. Ashok Kumar Mishra were available.

A similar situation was reported in the Botany Department, where Associate Professor Dr. Sudhir Kumar Pandey was made HOD while senior professors including Prof. Ashwani Kumar Dixit, Prof. S.K. Shahi, Prof. D.K. Patel and Prof. Santosh Kumar Prajapati were serving in the department.

In the Social Work Department, Dr. Archana Yadav, then an Assistant Professor, was appointed HOD despite the presence of Prof. Pratima Jain Mishra and Associate Professor Dr. Sasmita Patel. Dr. Yadav was later promoted to Associate Professor.

In the Industrial and Production Engineering Department, Associate Professor C.P. Devangan has been appointed HOD even though senior professors Prof. S.C. Srivastava and Prof. M.K. Singh are part of the department.

Similarly, in the Education Department, Associate Professor Sambit Padhi replaced Prof. C.S. Wazhalwar as HOD and has since been promoted to Professor. In the Computer Science and Information Technology Department, Dr. Pushpalata Pujari, an Associate Professor, was appointed HOD in place of Prof. Ratnesh Srivastava.

These appointments have triggered discussions within the academic community, with some faculty members alleging that seniority norms were bypassed and certain individuals received preferential treatment.

Some teachers have also alleged that Vice-Chancellor Prof. Alok Kumar Chakrawal has been favouring individuals close to him, though these claims remain unverified.

Responding to the controversy, University Media In-charge Prof. Manish Srivastava stated that all appointments in the university are made in accordance with UGC regulations and university ordinances.

He added that Ordinance-75 allows the Vice-Chancellor to appoint HODs under specific circumstances, and such decisions are taken keeping the interests of the university in mind.

The controversy highlights a broader concern about administrative transparency and adherence to institutional rules in higher education institutions. Since Guru Ghasidas University is a central university, faculty members believe that procedural clarity and adherence to ordinances are essential to maintain academic credibility and institutional trust.

If concerns regarding seniority norms and HOD appointment procedures continue to surface, the issue may attract greater scrutiny from academic bodies and the Ministry of Education.