Jammu, May 1: The Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory government has extended the term of the Chairperson of J&K Board of School Education (JKBOSE) Prof Veena Pandita for a period of two months from April 30, the day of her retirement.
“In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section (12) of the Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education Act, 1975 and in suppression of notification or any other notification issued on the subject, the government hereby extends the term of Prof Veena Pandita, Chairperson, Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education for aperiod of two months only beyond her date of superannuation i.e 30-4-2020”, a notification said.
Sources said the extension of Prof Pandita was on the cards as the search committee constituted by J&K UT government on April 8 to suggest a panel of candidates for the appointment of new school education board chairman made little headway.
“Keeping in view the prevailing situation when the whole administration is busy in dealing with the fatal COVID-19 threat, the extension to present BOSE chairperson is a step in right direction. We are hopeful that the results will be declared soon and other few pending issues will also be sorted out by Veena Pandita during her two-month extension”, an official said.
When contacted, Veena Pandita said “superannuation privilege has beendenied for two months more by giving extension because of covid and lockdown around”.
Pandita was appointed as officiating chairperson of Board in on August 10, 2017 replacing Zahoor Ahmad Chatt who was repatriated to his parent higher education department. Later on April 5, 2018, Pandita was appointed as permanent Chairman of Board for a period of two years. The tenure of Veena Pandita expired on April 4, but the J&K government had extended her tenure till April 30 in view of the prevailing situation.