Baba Saheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar Bihar University. Telegraph picture

Baba Saheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar Bihar University, Muzaffarpur, is buzzing with activities for conducting election to 15 seats of its senate.

The university authorities want to fill up the positions of 15 members of the senate, who have completed three years in the committee.

In adherence to the directives of the university vice-chancellor, Bimal Kumar, registrar A.P. Mishra on Tuesday issued a notification to conduct election on April 20 for 15 seats of the senate.

Mishra also declared the names of 2,037 voters who would cast ballots to elect the senate members.

The nomination process started on Wednesday and scrutiny of nomination papers would begin on April 3, sources in the university said. Candidates can withdraw their candidature on April 4, the sources added.

The registrar said the votes would be counted on April 21 and the results would be declared on April 22.

The registrar added that 2,037 teachers would elect nine senate members from constituent colleges, three from postgraduate departments and three from affiliated and technical colleges under the university.

The university has prevented the principals and the heads of postgraduate departments from contesting the senate elections in adherence to the guidelines.

Altogether 134 teachers belonging to 22 postgraduate departments would cast votes to elect three members of the senate from the postgraduate circle. On the other hand, 903 teachers would vote to elect nine senate members from the circle of constituent colleges.

In the meantime, 1,000 teacher voters, belonging to the affiliated and technical colleges, would elect only three representatives to represent them in the senate.

Baba Saheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar Bihar University vice-chancellor Kumar told The Telegraph that he has requested the district police to provide adequate force for the smooth functioning of the senate elections on April 20.

The university has sought deployment of a deputy superintendent of police-rank officer in the university, equipped with heavy reinforcement on the day of polling. The university has also decided to set up polling booths at the university headquarters.

The vice-chancellor has framed certain rules and code of conduct for the probable candidates. Kumar said: “Teaching activities should not be hampered at any cost because of the senate elections. Teachers should not play truant in colleges on the pretext of campaigning.”

He added: “The university will not hesitate to take action against teachers and candidates if they are found absent from the colleges.”

The senate of the university had recently protested against the authorities’ move to conduct a probe into the circumstances in which private colleges were granted affiliation in December last year.

In December last year, the university had granted recognition to 23 private colleges in Muzaffarpur, Vaishali, Sitamarhi, Sheohar, East Champaran and West Champaran.