Singh said: “I would wish that whoever is appointed is a person of some academic intuition and not purely an administrator. But at the same time the person must also be ready or willing to give up some of his personal interests or academic interests in favour of the university.
“Whoever accepts vice chancellorship, the university must be the first priority; personal academic ambitions and his engagements must come next.”
Singh, who taught at the University of Delhi 1997 to 2005, said that during his five year tenure at NUJS he had tried to make some improvements on the academic side both “at the level of the faculty and engagement of the students in serious research”.
“But at the same time there are a number of things where further improvements are needed. [And on] infrastructure we are weak in a number of ways – particularly the space where we are is very narrow and we are facing serious problems particularly for hostels, since the university is residential and most of its facilities are open 24 hours.”
He noted that the college did not have any space on campus but was expecting the state government to grant a “convenient place where we can move further and expand”, although only preliminary suggestions have so far been received that have not yet been taken further.
Singh added that there was also a lot of scope for expanding programmes of study in the social sciences space. NUJS was planning to start a degree on law and management, as well as start up a center for law and public policy, which had already been approved. “There is a need to attract persons from other disciplines to the university, which are aligned disciplines.”
Singh told Legally India that after his retirement he would privately like to continue with research and writing, not necessarily in any academic institution.
“There are a number of areas in which I have been thinking [of researching further] apart from some of the books I have already done that need to be revised
One is [VN] Shukla’s Constitution of India, which I have been revising for the last couple of years,” he said.
“And for a long time I have been thinking of writing something on the nature and understanding of the Indian legal system. That appears to be sort of a lifelong plan which I have been dreaming about for a long time.”
He said that he would retire on 30 November but his sympathies would always remain with the college and he would assist whenever there was anything he could do even after his retirement.
Singh was head and dean of Delhi University’s faculty of law from 1994 to 1997, having also taught at Meerut from 1964 to 1970, and having held fellow and visiting professor roles at colleges such as University of Heidelberg in Germany, and universities in Hong Kong, Osaka, Singapore, Berlin and Beijing.
Comments
It was under his tenure that NUJS had a huge recruitment of top notch faculty from around the globe!
NUJS has largely been a student lead college; but still, I hope another dynamic VC replaces Prof. Singh.
NUJS needs someone like Ranbir Singh. Some snobs scoff at the fact that he is not a well-known academic and "shamelessly" woos corporates and politicians, but that is the kind of person you need. There is too much commie thinking in NUJS.
A couple of quick clarifications. I've worked quite closely with Prof Singh over the last couple of years, and have not till date, spotted an anti market sentiment in him. Of course, he may not be as market savvy as Prof Ranbir Singh. But he's never stood in the way of a good collaboration or a good idea. I've never heard of him refusing a chair opportunity. Or a collaboration with a foreign University--in fact, as we speak, we are actively pursuing two tie ups..and Prof Singh has been extremely supportive. So not sure where you are getting this sentiment from?
Thanks,
Shamnad Basheer
When will Veer Singh retire!
http://www.nujs.edu/downloads/notice-for-vc-nujs.pdf
There is no requirement of 15 years teaching experience or anything like that. It wil be great if NUJS can have a young VC.
I have already sent in a nomination in favour of Prof. Basheer. All others who think on the same lines are requested to take concrete steps by sending in nominations [http://nujs.edu/downloads/notice-for-vc-nujs.pdf] and not merely comment on legally india and let the issue rest.
I hope the fact that Prof. Basheer has long and non-gray hair does not count against him
Once a Noojie always a Noojie.
Oops! Got to get going. Lots of plates to wash.
They start up so often. What's the next start up and when is it coming up? When will you start the next LPO, Octopussy or whatever else you guys start?
Friends let us start a campaign to have a young and modern VC. If Shamnad Basheer has applied for the post the students should start an andolan and lobby for him.
p.s. I am not from GNLU
But there is not much one can do in a given space of 4 acres. It is the government that needs to take the blame primarily. The hiked fees was another issue that received stiff retaliation , but as a VC he tried to address the issue favourably for the students as far as possible, but there wasn't much he could do as the costs of running the university also went up.
All in all I saw a lot of positive changes in the university and I am glad that Prof. Singh was my VC.
Shubho
Prof. Singh's humble, soft-spoken, person and a father-like treatment for his colleagues and students has won many a hearts. People respect him as an academic par excellence, an administrator with traits unmatched. The also adore him as a man of caliber, a fatherly figure.
NUJS today easily has the best faculty among all NLUs. Prof. Singh takes away all the credit for ensuring that. He gave the professors the academic freedom complete freedom when it came to offering, structuring and evaluating courses. His towering presence, as a leading constitutional and comparative law scholar in itself, was an incentive to many a great professor.
Gor the students at NUJS, Prof. Singh took lots of pioneering steps to enhance the academic delivery system. Projects, class hours, course evaluation methodology were virtually revolutionized under his tenure.
Moreover, students are given complete freedom to do what their thoughtful minds can conceive of; and the entrepreneurship displayed by NUJS students or the sort of speakers (very very controversial ones, mind you) they get to their college speaks volumes for that value of freedom.
The infrastructure (new gym, auditorium, canteen) and the beautification of the campus shows that he had a 360 degree view as an administrator and did not focus merely on academic reforms. (Though I am sure the lack of space in the girl's hostels is something to be still worried about).
NUJS' tie-ups with a great many foreign universities and a top-notch relationships with leading and foreign recruiters have only been enhanced under prof. Singh's tenure.
But more than these achievements, the students of NUJS will remember prof. Singh as someone who they can look upto as a hero, a mentor, someone they'd want to idolise.
NUJS not only is bidding adieu to a great VC but also a great man; a pioneer in the legal education who stands shoulder to shoulder with the likes of Prof. Madhava Menon and Prof. Ranbir Singh.
Do not make a mistake to place Prof. M.P.Singh on the same platform of Prof. Madhav Menon and Prof. Ranbir Singh. Prof. Menon and Prof, Ranbir Singh worked for the interest of the students and the legally appointed Faculty Members. Prof. Menon has built up NUJS with his hard work and with a vision of National Law School located in Calcutta which is a pride for all the Calcuttans.
Writer on Prof Singh: A great tenure says that in the farewell speech Prof.M.P.Singh spoke clearly of what he stood for. Yes, it is well known to all what he stood for but that was not in the interest of the students and the Faculty members.
Dear Writer on Prof Singh: A great tenure - Try to find it out yourself and the truth will be exposed with facts.
Dear Writer on Prof Singh: A great tenure new gym, auditorium, canteen and the beautification of the campus are also required in every colleges and Universities but such ornamental beautification cannot hide the illegalities that had happened in a NUJS a National Law School during the so called " great tenure" of Prof. M.P.Singh. Do not send wrong messages without knowing the facts and the truth.
Please read my previous comments and find out the truth yourself.