Patna, Sept. 22: In a major relief to vice-chancellors (VCs) of six Bihar varsities, the Supreme Court today stayed the Patna High Court order stripping them of their financial and administrative powers.

A division bench comprising Justice G.S. Singhvi and Justice S.J. Mukhopadhyay issued notices to all the respondents, including the Bihar government, and directed them to file counter affidavits within eight months.

The court passed the directive after the matter was mentioned before the bench by the VCs’ counsel. The apex court also stayed the proceedings at the high court listed for hearing on October 24.

On September 9, a division bench of Patna High Court passed the order after hearing a public interest litigation filed by one Ram Tawakya Singh. The high court had issued notices to the chancellor and the newly appointed VCs and pro-vice-chancellors.

The high court, in its order, restrained the VCs from making any expenditure except for paying salary to regular employees and pensioners till further orders, apart from making any appointment. The matter has been listed for further hearing on October 24.

Patna University (PU) VC Shambhu Nath Singh, affected by the order, told The Telegraph: “We welcome the Supreme Court order, as it is in the right direction and clears the mist in state varsities and has also set the things right at the university.”