Controversy Erupts at Sido Kanhu Murmu University Over Appointment of 13 Directors: Transparency and Criteria Under Question
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Administrative restructuring within higher education institutions is intended to boost efficiency, streamline governance, and foster academic growth. However, when appointments to key leadership posts bypass conventional recruitment protocols, internal dissent and public controversy frequently follow.
Sido Kanhu Murmu University (SKMU) in Dumka has found itself at the center of a major controversy following the recent appointment of 13 faculty members as directors to manage newly established directorates. While the university administration asserts that these steps align with modern institutional frameworks, mounting faculty discontent has brought questions of transparency, eligibility criteria, and administrative fairness to the forefront.
Comprehensive List of Newly Appointed SKMU Directors
Under the leadership of Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Kunul Kandeer, the university management issued notifications to fill 13 crucial director positions under the provisions of Sections 22 to 38 of the Jharkhand State Universities Act, 2026. Designed with a three-year tenure, these directors are expected to shoulder administrative duties alongside regular academic responsibilities:
Dr. Achyut Chetan (PG English): Director of Research, Innovation, Incubation, Industry Linkage, and Entrepreneurship.
Dr. Rajesh Yadav (PG Physics): Director of Information Technology and Digital Learning.
Dr. Vinay Kumar Sinha (PG Hindi): Director of Lifelong Learning and Education.
Dr. Poonam Hembram (PG Zoology): Director of Student Affairs.
Dr. Poonam Binjha (SP College): Director of National Service Scheme (NSS).
Dr. S.T. Khan (PG Urdu): Director of Sports and Physical Education.
Dr. Nilesh Kumar (PG Zoology): Director of Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC).
Dr. Sumitra Hembram (SP College): Director of Inclusive Education.
Dr. Sujit Kumar Soren (PG Sociology): Director of Internship, Apprenticeship, and Placement.
Dr. Rajiv Ranjan Sinha (PG Physics): Director of Public Relations and Community Outreach.
Dr. Anjula Murmu (PG English): Director of Student Art and Culture.
Dr. Rajiv Kerketta (PG Economics): Director of Affiliated Colleges.
Transparency and Selection Process Under Scrutiny
Despite the formal structuring of these directorates, the selection process has sparked fierce debate across the campus. Several faculty members have raised serious objections, pointing out that established criteria and standard qualifications appear to have been sidelined during the appointments.
According to internal sources, prerequisites for holding director-level positions typically require associate professor status, yet multiple faculty members currently holding assistant professor ranks have been appointed to these roles. Furthermore, faculty members have criticized the administration for failing to invite open applications, expressions of interest, or nominations from eligible teaching staff. Direct appointments without an open call have left qualified and willing senior teachers feeling sidelined, fueling allegations that a specific group holds undue influence over key administrative decisions.
Unfilled Posts and Institutional Mandates
Adding to the ongoing campus debate, critical administrative vacancies remain unaddressed. Despite the rollout of 13 new directors, high-profile posts such as Dean Academic Affairs and Director of Estate and Facility Management have been left vacant, raising further administrative concerns.
Meanwhile, the newly appointed directors have been assigned diverse portfolios aimed at transforming university operations—ranging from driving research and fostering digital learning to strengthening placement cells and ensuring inclusive education. As the university management maintains silence over the selection controversy, faculty members continue to demand greater transparency and adherence to merit-based appointments moving forward.
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