Dr Baba is Kashmir University(KU) Librarian

Srinagar, Nov 1: Dr Abdul Majid Baba Wednesday took over as Kashmir University(KU) Librarian for  Allama Iqbal Library, an official handout said.
Dr Baba succeeded Riyaz Rufai , who superannuated from  the university services yesterday.
“Dr Baba has played a significant role in the development of Allama Iqbal Library. Due to his administrative, academic and teaching skills, he is known in academic circles especially in the field of Library and Information Science,” the KU handout said.
 “He has also remained alumnus of Delhi University. Dr Baba is the first person in Jammu and Kashmir Universities to get Research Degree in the field of Library Science from Delhi  University. He has authored four books including one co-authored in 1982 with late Prof Moti Lal Wali, Ex-Dean and Head Library Science, University of Kashmir,” it added.

SOURCE: http://www.greaterkashmir.com/

Librarians dismissal over lack of qualification upheld

The orders of the Villupuram District Library Officer (DLO), dismissing a librarian (Grade-III) within two weeks from his appointment on the ground that he lacked  necessary educational qualification has been upheld by the Madras High Court.

Justice K Chandru upheld the dismissal order while dismissing a writ petition and a contempt application from Rajesdeena. Petitioner was appointed as librarian at Siruvathur village.

Within two weeks it was found  that he lacked the qualification to hold the post.

By an order dated January 4 this year, Rajesdeena was dismissed from service. Challenging this, he filed a writ petition and the High Court on January 30 admitted it and granted an interim stay of the dismissal order.

Notwithstanding the interim stay, as the petitioner was not allowed to join duty, Rajesdeena filed the contempt application.

Additional Government Pleader P Sanjai Gandhi submitted that the petitioner had studied MA (History) under open university and he did not have the minimum basic degree and the Bachelor of Library and Information Science qualification. Hence, Rajesdeena could not be appointed as the librarian Grade III.

Citing a Supreme Court decision, Justice Chandru said that obtaining the PG degree under the OU scheme without the basic UG degree would not amount to having the qualification in terms of the minimum general educational qualification prescribed for any service under the State. Hence, there was no illegality in the dismissal order served to Rajesdeena.

The contempt petition could not survive in view of the dismissal of the writ petition, the Madras HC judge added.

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High court quashes posting of director of libraries

CHENNAI: The Madras high court on Monday quashed the appointment of an under-qualified person as director of libraries and lambasted the state government for neglecting libraries despite collecting crores of rupees as library cess. 

Allowing a quo warranto plea to remove S Anbalagan from the post of director of libraries,Justice Chandru said, "An attack against a library is an attack against the civilization and culture of a society. The attack on libraries may take many forms. There may be a direct attack to destroy it or indirect attacks like cutting the budgetary allocation, delay in sanctioning funds, keeping the library understaffed, denial of particular publications or appointing persons who are unqualified. It is necessary to save our libraries from being destroyed by such ingenious methods." 

The matter relates to the appointment of Anbalagan as director of libraries on September 21, 2011, even though he did not possess the mandatory qualification of a masters degree in library science and 15 years of experience in running libraries. 

When M Muthuswami, secretary of the Tamil Nadu Library Association, filed the petition, the government initially said it was an ad hoc arrangement. The government order, however, mentioned it was a regular appointment. 

Justice Chandru pointed out that Tamil Nadu had a rich library history because it was the first state to bring a law - Tamil Nadu Public Libraries Act 1998 - into place. 

"It is unfortunate that having created a separate directorate and prescribed rules, the state government was observing the rules more in its breach than observance. It has become a promotional avenue for the persons working in the Directorate of School Education. The persons who are in the rank of deputy director or its equivalent got themselves posted as director of public libraries just prior to their retirement. After getting the higher post by transfer and getting higher pay fixed, they will retire from service. They will also get higher terminal benefits in this process," the judge said. 

In this regard, Justice Chandru pointed out that in the past 30 years, except one or two, other directors lacked even minimum educational qualification prescribed, to hold the post. 

"Having collected huge amounts from the public as library cess and constituted legislation for library providing for a statutory post of director, the authorities for the past four decades have not done anything to alleviate the situation," the judge lamented. "It requires special knowledge to man the library. It is not a mere question of book issuing clerk manning the library." 

He also suggested that the government could go for direct recruitment of qualified candidates as director of libraries, if they do not find a fit person in existing government service.

Source: Times of India, Chennai Apr 17, 2012, 02.05AM

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/High-court-quashes-posting-of-director-of-libraries/articleshow/12696416.cms
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http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/posting-set-aside/986992.html