The sudden transfer of Venu Vasudevan, Director-General of the National Museum, to the Sports Ministry last week has not only ignored rules but is also likely to have a cascading effect on the functioning of the museum.
The Cabinet Committee on Appointments, it has now emerged, may have overlooked a December 3, 2013 decision appointing Mr. Vasudevan for a fixed tenure of three years till December 2016 or till a new director-general is appointed. No new director-general has been announced or appointed.Even the Culture Ministry, the nodal Ministry with all museums under its charge, was in the dark on the transfer of Mr. Vasudevan who enjoyed the reputation as an efficient administrator and who had worked towards restoring the National Museum.
Mr. Vasudevan was appointed Director-General in January 2014, after the government failed to recruit a suitable candidate to the post. He was considered for the post as he had already been looking after the administration of the Museum in his capacity as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Culture.
ADVERTISEMENT
As per the stringent recruitment rules, the Director-General of the National Museum should hold a Master’s degree from a recognised University or equivalent in Museology or History of Art or History or Sanskrit or Pali or Prakrit or Persian or Arabic or Archaeology or Anthropology or Fine Arts or Chemistry; and have 15 years experience (including research work) in Museology. or History of Art or History or Sanskrit or Pali or Prakrit or Persian or Arabic or Archaeology or Anthropology.