Mail News Service
Jamshedpur, Apr 10: Kolhan University has received a directive from the Raj Bhavan enforcing a significant change in the rules governing official leave for university personnel. This comes as part of a broader policy shift for state universities in Jharkhand, initiated by Additional Chief Secretary to the Governor, Nitin Madan Kulkarni.
As per the latest order, Vice Chancellors are now prohibited from availing duty leave to attend seminars, workshops, or other programs in external educational institutions. This essentially bars the use of paid duty leave for activities aimed at personal capacity building outside the university.
The Raj Bhavan has clearly stated that applications for leave must pertain directly to university-related responsibilities. The newly issued guidelines apply not only to Vice Chancellors but also extend to other academic officials including Deans, Heads of Departments and teaching staff.
“Duty leave should be reserved strictly for tasks and responsibilities concerning the university. It is not meant for personal academic pursuits outside the institution,” the guideline emphasized.
This move aims to bring more accountability and discipline within the academic leadership of state universities. It has also sparked discussions in academic circles about the potential impact on knowledge sharing and academic collaboration across institutions.
Earlier, it was common for university leaders and faculty to participate in conferences and seminars under duty leave provisions, which are now curtailed by this directive.
The decision reflects a shift toward centralizing university governance and ensuring that state-funded academic time is utilized strictly for institutional development.
