Jammu: Former Jammu and Kashmir chief secretary S.S. Bloeria is set to be the first vice chancellor of Central University, Jammu, with the union government approving his appointment, highly placed official sources say.

The decision has been conveyed to the Jammu and Kashmir government and is announced on Thursday, the sources said. This comes after protests over the post lying vacant for a long time.

Bloeria is a 1968 batch IAS officer who rose to become chief secretary in 2003 and retired in 2005. He is a native of Jammu.

Union Human Resources Minister Kapil Sibal has informed Chief Minister Omar Abdullah about it.

Earlier internationally acclaimed academician and international affairs expert Amitabh Mattoo was appointed to the post. But he had refused to join as he had offers at an international level. He is currently in Australia. IANS