Jaipur: Jagadguru Ramanandacharya Rajasthan Sanskrit University issued an order Tuesday prohibiting academic staff from holding any discussions with non-teaching staff. The order issued by the registrar states, “All academic staff are directed not to hold discussions with non-teaching staff in any room of the administrative building. If any academic staff member wishes to discuss any topic, has a problem, or brings any issue to the attention of the administration, they should consult the Vice-Chancellor or the Registrar.”Vice-chancellor Prof Madan Mohan Jha said the order was issued keeping in mind the shortage of staff and to ensure that each staff member does their own work.“The university is short-staffed for years, and if teachers want to hold discussions about their issues with a particular non-teaching staff member, then that person is occupied and their work suffers. This way, administrative work of the university suffers, and the order was issued to enhance efficiency. If anyone has any issue, then they can discuss it with the vice-chancellor,” said Prof Jha. Teachers said the order, issued 26 years after the university’s establishment, undermined their freedom and increased administrative control over the institution. The teachers have written to the vice-chancellor to withdraw the “unnecessary order”. “Universities are meant to promote freedom of discussion. If such a childish order is not withdrawn, a memorandum will be submitted to the governor and chief minister,” said Shastri Kosalendradas, assistant professor at varsity’s department of philosophy.
