Chancellor's secretariat initiates process of selecting VCs

Patna: With the deadline for online applications for the posts of vice-chancellors (VCs) and pro-vice-chancellors (PVCs) in various state universities ending on Wednesday, the chancellor’s secretariat has begun the process of constituting search committees to expedite the appointments.Each three-member search committee will comprise one nominee each from the chancellor, the state government and the University Grants Commission (UGC).Sources at Lok Bhawan said five search committees will be constituted for the appointment of VCs in 10 universities — Veer Kunwar Singh University (Ara), Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur University, Maulana Mazharul Haq Arabic and Persian University, Magadh University, L N Mithila University, Kameshwar Singh Darbhanga Sanskrit University, B N Mandal University, B R A Bihar University, Jaya Prakash University and Aryabhatta Knowledge University.

One committee will oversee the selection process for two universities.The chancellor’s secretariat has reportedly written to the UGC, seeking nominees for the committees in accordance with the Bihar State Universities Act and Supreme Court directives.Sources said the selection process will first be taken up in universities that do not have regular VCs. These include VKSU, TMBU, MMHAPU and MU. The remaining six universities will be considered in the next phase.

The process for appointing PVCs in 17 universities, including Bihar Agricultural University and Bihar Animal Sciences University, will follow. No conventional state university has had a PVC for several years.The post of pro-vice-chancellor was created in 1982 through amendments to the Patna University Act, 1976, and the Bihar Universities Act, 1976. PVCs are appointed by the chancellor, in consultation with the state government, through the same process as VCs for a term of up to three years.