Former Vice Chancellor of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU), Katra, Prof Sanjeev Jain is likely to be the new Vice Chancellor of Central University of Jammu. It has been learnt from official sources that Prof Jain’s name has been finalized and only approval from the President House is awaited. He will be replacing Prof Ashok Alma, whose five-year term ends in April 2020. The new Vice Chancellor could not be appointed due to the outbreak of COVID pandemic. Prof Alma has been the VC of Central University of Jammu for more than six years. Madhya Pradesh resident, Prof Jain was appointed as the Vice Chancellor of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University on March 15, 2016 for a term of three years, but he was given an extension of two years. Prof Jain had resigned from his post in April 2019 and was appointed as the Director of the Indian Institute of Information Technology, Jabalpur. Prof Jain has rich academic and research experience. “Order regarding the appointment of Prof Jain as new CUJ Vice Chancellor may be issued in a couple of days,” they said. Sources further revealed that on the other hand, Jammu University Vice Chancellor, Prof Manoj Dhar’s three-year term is also ending on July 25. `The search committee to appoint new Vice Chancellor of Jammu University is yet to be constituted but as of now, all eyes are on the Raj Bhawan that whether Prof Dhar will get extension or not,” sources added Pertinent to mention here that after the formation of the Union Territory, the tenure of Vice Chancellors of Universities in Jammu and Kashmir has been reduced from five years to three years.
