Noted Academic Amitabh Mattoo Quits As Advisor to Mehbooba Mufti

He was a former Vice-Chancellor of Jammu University and also served as advisor to then CM Mufti Mohmmad Sayeed.

Amitabh Mattoo and Mehbooba Mufti. (Photo: The Quint)

Noted academic Professor Amitabh Mattoo tendered his resignation as advisor to Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday, citing personal reasons.

Mattoo was appointed advisor with the status of a cabinet minister in the Jammu and Kashmir government earlier this year in April.

Yes, I have tendered my resignation due to personal reasons. I want to spend some time with my family.

Amitabh Mattoo

He is a former Vice-Chancellor of Jammu University. Sources close to him said he will be leaving for Australia in a few days to pursue a career in academics.

There was no official word if the Chief Minister had accepted Mattoo's resignation.

53-year-old Mattoo had served as an advisor to the then Chief Minister Mufti Mohmmad Sayeed till Sayeed's death in January this year.

There is no political or administrative reason for my decision to step down. I have resigned as I feel I need more time to devote to academics. Politics has never been my career or ambition. I also genuinely believe I can serve the people of my country and state better by continuing my academic journey. Kindly don’t try to attribute any political motive to my decision.

Mattoo told IANS

He is a member of many national and international bodies of academics. He had earlier served as Chief Executive Officer and inaugural Director of the Australia India Institute and Professor of International Relations at the University of Melbourne in Australia.

A former member of the National Knowledge Commission, a high-level advisory group to the Prime Minister of India, Mattoo also served as a professor of Disarmament Studies at the School of International Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University.

(With inputs from PTI and IANS)