VoL Desk, Dec. 10: Ladakh Research Scholars Forum (LRSF), a body of the Research Scholars of Ladakh, stresses reserving job opportunities in Ladakh for the residents of Ladakh, for which the body urged the University of Ladakh to withhold the Assistant Registrar examination scheduled to be held on 17th and 18th December, maintained a press release by the forum.

The research scholars of Ladakh urged the University of Ladakh to withhold the recruitment until a desired and justifiable recruitment policy is put in place by UT Administration of Ladakh.

In this regard, the Ladakh Scholars Forum had conducted an online meet of its members wherein numerous pressing issues regarding shrinking job opportunities for educated eligible youth of UT Ladakh was discussed among other issues.

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During the meeting, members of LRSF expressed their dismay over notification no 4 & 5 of 2022 dated: 29/11/2022 & 03/12/2022 wherein dates for written examination for the post of Assistant Registrar was notified.

The members expressed their anguish over the fact that official minutes of meetings of Ladakh University lack validity and credibility. The Hon’ble Chairman LAHDC Kargil, as recorded in the minutes of meeting, had specifically brought to the notice of the University Council that the Assistant Registrar posts in University of Jammu have been reserved for the domiciles of J&K UT. The written records in the minutes of that meeting vividly states that “it was resolved to withhold the exam of Assistant Registrar”.

The views of Chancellor (LG Ladakh) & University Council Members (CECs) have been brushed aside by notifying the date of examination for the mentioned posts. If this is not dealt with reasonable arguments, we fear that the resulting precedent may also be followed by other autonomous institutions of Ladakh such as SKAUST. The Ladakh Resident Certificate (LRC) in this regard should firmly be mandated as the basic criteria for the vacant positions available in the University of Ladakh.

It was affirmatively resolved by the members that by any means, University of Ladakh must withhold the recently notified written examination for the posts of Assistant Registrar. The Chairman LAHDC Kargil and Leh, and Hon’ble Chancellor should ensure that LRC be made a mandatory requirement for the current posts as well as for the teaching positions of Assistant Professorship in University of Ladakh.

The members also noted that the University of Ladakh has been taking unilateral decisions irrespective of the aspirations of the Ladakhi people. A case, for example, was that of the appointment of an ineligible person as Registrar of the University whose appointment had later to be called for cancellation vide University order no: 176-UOL of 2022 dated: 13.07.2022. The appointment process in the University of Ladakh has been very opaque and ambiguous.

The members also noted that all the job positions in UT J&K, including contractual teaching positions have been reserved for domiciles of J&K whereas University of Ladakh has not even reserved the contractual positions for Ladakhi residents, thereby jeopardizing the career prospects of the educated Ladakhi youth.

The members stated that youth of Ladakh have been keeping an eye over the ongoing activities of the University of Ladakh, be it the engagement of System Analyst on outsourcing basis or be it other irregularities, be it the dilly-dallying tactics in reserving contractual teaching positions or be it an exponential fee hike in the only public university in UT Ladakh. Considering such decisions of the University against the interest of educated and eligible Ladakhi youth, LRSF severely criticises and condemns the anti-youth policies of the University of Ladakh.

The meeting resolved to put these issues before the public of Ladakh in a vociferous manner & to struggle for RIGHTFUL reservation for Ladakhi residents in a united and collective manner. The meeting also called upon all student unions across Ladakh to come together for the cause of the youth of Ladakh.