Non-resident VC gives varsity a face-lift

‘‘This is what we have been able to gather from his frequent visits to New Delhi to attend various meetings,’’ says one professor. Others nod in agreement.

Before becoming Jammu’s VC, Mattoo was professor of international relations at Delhi’s JNU. ‘‘Mattoo is member of National Security Advisory Committee and many a Delhi based human rights organisations,’’ counters JU registrar, J S Dev, adding he had to go to Delhi once or twice a month, to attend meetings.

‘‘We need a full-time VC and not one, who remains busy either junketting or planning his political assignments,’’ says another senior professor.

‘‘He has a soft corner for Kashmiri Pandits and has quite a few of them as his advisors,’’ says a third professor. Yet most agree that Mattoo takes prompt decisions. Asked if the VC had a bias against any political party, one critic quipped: ‘‘Yes, he does not like the professors, who are affiliated with BJP.’’

Reacting to such charges Mattoo retorts: ‘‘As I keep on writing in different journals, I may have a particular political thinking but as VC my only agenda is the development of the university.’’

According to the HOD Chemistry, Prof R L Sharma, the department has always lacked funds and it has not changed under Mattoo..

Prof Ashok Aima disagrees. ‘‘He is doing a lot for the promotion of IT in the campus and has already brought JU on the web,’’ he says.Prof Devinder Singh of the Punjabi Department says libraries and laboratories are Mattoo’s top priority.