Peons vote to elect a college principal
In this season of election, staff
members including peons of Bhavan’s R A College of Science create a record of
sorts by electing a principal through a secret ballot
Yogesh
Avasthi
Posted On Saturday, November 03,
2012 (http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/article/2/20121103201211030123408049508873/Peons-vote-to-elect-a-college-principal.html
In a rather debatable first in the
history of higher education in state, staff members of a college elected their
principal on Friday. The ‘electoral college’ included peons, administrative
staff and teachers. The trustees of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s R A College of
Science in Khanpur needed a principal as they felt the performance of the
principal in charge was not up to the mark. Besides, with the trust preparing
to celebrate 75 years of its existence in a big way, office-bearers were
looking for new dynamism at the top, according to trust secretary Mukesh Patel.
What they came up with was an innovative first in appointment of a principal: an election, something that academicians said they did not recollect taking place anywhere in the state so far. “As the election code of conduct is in force, the appointment cannot be approved and made by the education department. So, we decided to check the opinion of the staff. After all, the principal has to work with them only,” Patel said. So, in the morning, he assembled the ‘voters’ -- 33 teaching and nonteaching staff -- gave them a ‘ballot paper’ and asked to put a cross mark (x) against the name of the professor they did not want as principal. Within 15 minutes the process was completed.
Dr H M Patel polled 27 votes and Dr Sharad Seth four. Two votes were found invalid. Dr Patel was promptly given charge of the office amid murmurs that asking peons to vote was an insult to senior teachers. “We expect the appointment order from the education department soon after the code of conduct is lifted,” said Mukesh Patel. Dr Patel and Dr Seth were the two senior faculty members who qualified for the job.
“Both of them were good candidates. However, according to an assessment by the education department, Dr Patel had an edge over Dr Seth as the former is a gold medallist in mathematics. He has about 18 years of experience -- 10 years in Idar and eight years at Bhavan’s,” said a faculty member. As against this, Dr Seth has a PhD in physics, has done his post-doctoral research inBrazil
He has organised several seminars for the college. When contacted, Dr Patel said, “The decision to give me charge of principal was taken almost unanimously. I am thankful to my colleagues and trustees and shall try to live up to their expectations.” Bhavan’s has a hallowed history, founded by freedom fighter, former Union minister and celebrated Gujarati author Kanhaiyalal Munshi on November 7, 1938, with the blessings of Mahatma Gandhi. Prof Atul Shah was the principal in charge since 2009.
What they came up with was an innovative first in appointment of a principal: an election, something that academicians said they did not recollect taking place anywhere in the state so far. “As the election code of conduct is in force, the appointment cannot be approved and made by the education department. So, we decided to check the opinion of the staff. After all, the principal has to work with them only,” Patel said. So, in the morning, he assembled the ‘voters’ -- 33 teaching and nonteaching staff -- gave them a ‘ballot paper’ and asked to put a cross mark (x) against the name of the professor they did not want as principal. Within 15 minutes the process was completed.
Dr H M Patel polled 27 votes and Dr Sharad Seth four. Two votes were found invalid. Dr Patel was promptly given charge of the office amid murmurs that asking peons to vote was an insult to senior teachers. “We expect the appointment order from the education department soon after the code of conduct is lifted,” said Mukesh Patel. Dr Patel and Dr Seth were the two senior faculty members who qualified for the job.
“Both of them were good candidates. However, according to an assessment by the education department, Dr Patel had an edge over Dr Seth as the former is a gold medallist in mathematics. He has about 18 years of experience -- 10 years in Idar and eight years at Bhavan’s,” said a faculty member. As against this, Dr Seth has a PhD in physics, has done his post-doctoral research in
He has organised several seminars for the college. When contacted, Dr Patel said, “The decision to give me charge of principal was taken almost unanimously. I am thankful to my colleagues and trustees and shall try to live up to their expectations.” Bhavan’s has a hallowed history, founded by freedom fighter, former Union minister and celebrated Gujarati author Kanhaiyalal Munshi on November 7, 1938, with the blessings of Mahatma Gandhi. Prof Atul Shah was the principal in charge since 2009.
In this season of election, staff
members including peons of Bhavan’s R A College of Science create a record of
sorts by electing a principal through a secret ballot
Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Saturday, November 03,
2012 at 01:23:35 AM
In a rather debatable first in the
history of higher education in state, staff members of a college elected their
principal on Friday. The ‘electoral college’ included peons, administrative
staff and teachers. The trustees of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s R A College of
Science in Khanpur needed a principal as they felt the performance of the
principal in charge was not up to the mark. Besides, with the trust preparing
to celebrate 75 years of its existence in a big way, office-bearers were
looking for new dynamism at the top, according to trust secretary Mukesh Patel.
What they came up with was an innovative first in appointment of a principal: an election, something that academicians said they did not recollect taking place anywhere in the state so far. “As the election code of conduct is in force, the appointment cannot be approved and made by the education department. So, we decided to check the opinion of the staff. After all, the principal has to work with them only,” Patel said. So, in the morning, he assembled the ‘voters’ -- 33 teaching and nonteaching staff -- gave them a ‘ballot paper’ and asked to put a cross mark (x) against the name of the professor they did not want as principal. Within 15 minutes the process was completed.
Dr H M Patel polled 27 votes and Dr Sharad Seth four. Two votes were found invalid. Dr Patel was promptly given charge of the office amid murmurs that asking peons to vote was an insult to senior teachers. “We expect the appointment order from the education department soon after the code of conduct is lifted,” said Mukesh Patel. Dr Patel and Dr Seth were the two senior faculty members who qualified for the job.
“Both of them were good candidates. However, according to an assessment by the education department, Dr Patel had an edge over Dr Seth as the former is a gold medallist in mathematics. He has about 18 years of experience -- 10 years in Idar and eight years at Bhavan’s,” said a faculty member. As against this, Dr Seth has a PhD in physics, has done his post-doctoral research inBrazil
He has organised several seminars for the college. When contacted, Dr Patel said, “The decision to give me charge of principal was taken almost unanimously. I am thankful to my colleagues and trustees and shall try to live up to their expectations.” Bhavan’s has a hallowed history, founded by freedom fighter, former Union minister and celebrated Gujarati author Kanhaiyalal Munshi on November 7, 1938, with the blessings of Mahatma Gandhi. Prof Atul Shah was the principal in charge since 2009.
What they came up with was an innovative first in appointment of a principal: an election, something that academicians said they did not recollect taking place anywhere in the state so far. “As the election code of conduct is in force, the appointment cannot be approved and made by the education department. So, we decided to check the opinion of the staff. After all, the principal has to work with them only,” Patel said. So, in the morning, he assembled the ‘voters’ -- 33 teaching and nonteaching staff -- gave them a ‘ballot paper’ and asked to put a cross mark (x) against the name of the professor they did not want as principal. Within 15 minutes the process was completed.
Dr H M Patel polled 27 votes and Dr Sharad Seth four. Two votes were found invalid. Dr Patel was promptly given charge of the office amid murmurs that asking peons to vote was an insult to senior teachers. “We expect the appointment order from the education department soon after the code of conduct is lifted,” said Mukesh Patel. Dr Patel and Dr Seth were the two senior faculty members who qualified for the job.
“Both of them were good candidates. However, according to an assessment by the education department, Dr Patel had an edge over Dr Seth as the former is a gold medallist in mathematics. He has about 18 years of experience -- 10 years in Idar and eight years at Bhavan’s,” said a faculty member. As against this, Dr Seth has a PhD in physics, has done his post-doctoral research in
He has organised several seminars for the college. When contacted, Dr Patel said, “The decision to give me charge of principal was taken almost unanimously. I am thankful to my colleagues and trustees and shall try to live up to their expectations.” Bhavan’s has a hallowed history, founded by freedom fighter, former Union minister and celebrated Gujarati author Kanhaiyalal Munshi on November 7, 1938, with the blessings of Mahatma Gandhi. Prof Atul Shah was the principal in charge since 2009.
