The appointment of vice-chancellors and pro-vice-chancellors to Bihar's universities has usually been mired in controversies with questions often being asked about the person's eligibility and political affiliation. Given this backdrop, the teaching fraternity says they are happy that academically sound and administratively capable persons have been named VCs of Tilka Manjhi Bhagal-pur University, Lalit Narayan Mithila University Darbhanga and Magadh University.

Nalini Kant Jha has been appointed VC at the Bhagalpur university; S.K. Singh from Banaras Hindu University will head the Darbhanga institution and Qamar Ahsan will preside over the state's biggest varsity, Magadh University.

Governor Ram Nath Kovind, who is the ex-officio chancellor of Bihar's universities, made the appointments on Monday evening. With this, six out of the state's 10 universities now have permanent VCs.

Jha, professor and director, Southern Asia Studies School of Social Sciences & International Studies at Pondicherry University, is a twice winner of the Fulbright scholarship. He is also visiting professor in international relations at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland (US), University of Dhaka, University of Lahore etc.

For Jha, it will be a homecoming of sorts as he had been a under-graduate student in the seventies at T.N.B. College, Bhagalpur, which falls under Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur University. After completing his under-graduation and post-graduation from Bihar in the early eighties, he moved to Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) for his M.Phil and PhD. Jha later joined Lalit Narayan Mithila University as lecturer. He then pursued his post-doctoral studies at the University of California, Berkeley. In 1993, he joined Pondicherry University as reader and has been associated with it since.

Talking to The Telegraph from Pondicherry, an elated Jha said: "As TMBU is my alma mater, my focus will be on academic improvement of the university. The areas where I will focus will be quality education for students, research, regularisation of academic sessions and promotion of teachers."

According to university sources, Jha will have his job cut out as the academic session at TMBU is delayed by more than two-and-a-half years. Also, the teachers of Bhaglapur University are upset with their irregular promotions. "Those teachers who deserve to be promoted will be given promotion, but there will be no compromise with the quality," Jha said.

If Jha is known for his academics, the newly appointed VC of Lalit Narayan Mithila University, S.K. Singh, is considered to be a tough administrator. Singh, who holds an MBA and a PhD in management studies from Banaras Hindu University, joined BHU as lecturer and later become dean of the School of Management Studies. At present, he is chief proctor at BHU. "My first priority will be academic improvement at the varsity with special focus on students getting quality education," Singh said.

Those who know Singh consider him as a tough administrator. Central University of South Bihar vice-chancellor, Harish Chandra Singh Rathore, who too is from BHU, said: "S.K. Singh is a tough administrator. As he has a management degree, he knows how to manage things. We are optimistic that under his leadership the university will grow."

Qamar Ahsan, who is currently vice-chancellor of the Sido Kanhu Murmu University in Dumka, has been appointed as VC of Magadh University, Bodh Gaya. Ahsan had earlier served as VC of Maulana Mazharul Haque Arabic and Persian University Patna from 2008-2010. Ahsan had earlier taught economics at A.N. College, Patna, which is affiliated to Magadh University.

Raj Bhavan sources said the chancellor's office wanted to appoint as VCs people with impeccable academic and administrative records. Earlier, prior to constitution of the search committee in 2011, the VCs were appointed by Raj Bhavan based on list of names given by the state government. Sources said that the appointment of VCs has always been a controversial issue with courts often stepping in.

In 2012, Patna High Court had quashed the appointments of VCs and pro VCs made by then Governor Devanand Konwar on the plea that proper consultation was not made in the appointment process. Many VCs and pro VCs who were appointed by Konwar involved in legal tangles and even their educational qualification didn't meet the eligibility criteria for such coveted and important posts.