One in five posts vacant at University of Kashmir, reveals RTI

As of February 2024, nearly 20% of the 2,859 sanctioned positions at the University of Kashmir were vacant, revealing a serious staff shortage across multiple departments, according to information released under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.

The data was disclosed following an RTI application filed by Jammu-based activist Raman Kumar Sharma.

A significant portion of the vacancies lies at the faculty level, including over 200 key academic roles such as professors, associate professors, and assistant professors.

Specifically, of the 56 sanctioned professor positions, only nine are filled, while 91 out of 120 associate professor posts remain unoccupied.

Additionally, 80 out of 371 assistant professor posts are yet to be filled.

The RTI response, provided by Central Public Information Officer and Assistant Registrar Ghulam Mohammed Wani, further highlighted that five out of seven sanctioned director positions are vacant.

The shortage extends to administrative and support roles as well. Of the 180 junior assistant posts, 110 are currently unstaffed.

Key academic and administrative roles like the dean of students’ welfare, dean of college development council, academic coordinator, research fellow, editor-cum-lecturer, and assistant estates officer are also lying vacant.

The university's Institute of Music and Fine Arts is functioning without a principal, and only three of seven senior instructors are in place.

Other notable gaps include three joint registrars, seven assistant registrars-cum-assistant controller examinations, and nine assistant librarians.

Several technical and support positions are also unfilled, such as computer operators, Hindi typists, junior engineers, coaches in physical education, and placement officers.

This widespread vacancy situation underscores the urgent need for recruitment to ensure the smooth functioning and academic excellence of the university.