Magadh University. Telegraph picture

Patna, June 3: Fate of 76 people, nominated to get jobs on compassionate ground in Magadh University in Bodhgaya from July 2010, is still hanging in balance.

State human resource development (HRD) department former secretary K.K. Pathak had stayed their appointments on the ground that the university had not sought the approval from the department for their recruitment.

All these 76 people have knocked several doors, including the janata darbars of chief minister Nitish Kumar, HRD minister P.K. Shahi and HRD principal secretary Anjani Kumar Singh. Today, these people approached Anjani Kumar Singh at his janata darbar with their plea. Singh assured that their pleas have been forwarded to the HRD minister and they would receive their appointment letters within a few days. According to case details, the university on July 3, 2010, had decided to provide jobs on compassionate grounds in Grade III and IV positions to family members of people who died after November 2008. The meeting headed by Magadh University former vice-chancellor (VC) Arvind Kumar had decided to provide jobs to these persons and all of them were to join duty on July 8, 2010. Anil Kumar, one of the 76 nominated members, said: “A day before the appointment, the university received a letter from Pathak putting a stay on the recruitment of all 76 members. The letter sent by the HRD department said the university had not sought approval from the HRD department before making the appointments. Moreover, the university administration had even issued a notice in some newspapers listing out the names of people who were to be appointed on compassionate grounds.”Anil added: “We have approached various forums with our plea but besides assurances we have not received anything.” Anil’s father Bhagwati Yadav, who was posted as laboratory boy in Daudhnagar College, Aurangabad, died on March 4, 2009 and since then he has been visiting various forums with his plea.Anil said the last appointment on compassionate grounds was made in the university in November 2008. Mohammed Sikander Khan is also knocking on the door of the education department after the demise of his father Mohammed Alamgir Khan, who was posted at DN College, Aurangabad.

He said: “Despite the stay order, Anjani, while hearing the demands of Bihar State University Colleges Employees’ Federation on August 19, 2010, said it is not mandatory for the university to seek approval from the state government. The approval from the government can be provided even after the appointment.”

Khan added that when they approached the VC based on the outcome of the meeting between Anjani and the federation, he said he had not received any letter from Anjani in this connection.