Varsity turf war takes toll on students

Gaya: The fate of nearly three lakh students of the pre-bifurcation Muzaffarpur University (MU) hangs in balance because of the ongoing turf war between officials of the parent university and its bigger offshoot, the Patna-based Pataliputra University (PPU). Though registered under MU, these students are enrolled in Patna and Nalanda district-based colleges that are now part of PPU.

As per a government notification, the parent university is left with 19 constituent and only one government-funded minority college while its Patna offshoot has got 25 constituent and three government-funded minority colleges.

The ongoing impasse on the issue of exam of students of academic sessions 2015-18, 2016-19 and 2017-20 has caused concern both in Raj Bhavan and in the state education department.

Sources say that in order to end the impasse, the governor-cum-chancellor will be appointing a three-member committee of “neutral vice chancellors” to find a solution to the vexed issue and make recommendations for exams of the ongoing sessions.

As of now, MU officials want exams of students admitted to sessions prior to establishment of Pataliputra University to be conducted by the parent university. But Pataliputra university officials have staked claim over all students enrolled in colleges falling under the jurisdiction of Patna and Nalanda districts irrespective of admission date.

Notified on April 9, 2018, Pataliputra University came into back-dated existence with effect from March 18.

A serious technical issue has cropped up as PPU did not officially exist before the March 18 notification and as such it cannot issue a valid degree to students.

Well-placed sources say that Patna University vice-chancellor Rash Bihari Sinha is tipped to be the convener of the committee of “neutral VCs”. The other members of the committee, according to sources, are Harikesh Singh, VC of JP University, Chapra, and SK Singh, VC of the LN Mithila University, Darbhanga.

A formal notification is expected soon. The formula to be adopted for MU-PPU would also be applicable in case of Munger and Purnea Universities, the other two universities established in 2018.

According to insiders, examination dept has come to be regarded as the most creamy part of the universities of the state on account of the availability of huge fund, a good part of which remains outside the purview of general audit for reasons of confidentiality.

When contacted PPU VC Gulab Chand Jaiswal said that he was busy in some official meeting. His MU counterpart Qamar Ahsan refused to comment.

Courtesy: The Telegraph