PK Shahi and Devanand Konwar

Patna, March 29: The Assembly passed two education bills amid Opposition protests today.

The two bills are related to the Bihar State University Service Commission and Patna University Amendment Act. With the passing of the bills, the power of the chancellor in connection to higher education would be curtailed.

The Telegraph had reported on December 7, 2010, about the revival of the State University Service Commission.

State human resource development (HRD) minister P.K. Shahi presented the two bills in the second half of the Assembly proceedings. Shahi, while presenting the bills said since it were passed now, the bills would bring transparency in the way of functioning of the universities and utilisation of funds.

With the passing of the bill, the autonomy of the chancellor in the appointment of vice-chancellors would come to an end, as there would be a search committee for their appointments.

With the Bihar Amendment Act, 1976, the vice-chancellor appointment would be done by the search committee, which will comprise between three to five members.

The search committee will consist of members comprising HRD principal secretary, any vice-chancellor from any university of the state, one person appointed by the governor, a member nominated by the chairman of the University Grants Commission, a state government nominated member, director from any technical institution, and also a vice-chancellor from any law university in the country.

The revival of the university service commission assumes significance as it was abolished by a resolution on March 10, 2007 by the NDA government in their previous term. Since then, the universities have held the power to recruit their own lecturers.

Over 40 per cent posts for lecturers and professors are vacant at the state universities. After the abolition of the university service commission, the process of appointment of teachers was given to the respective universities. There were several allegations that the process of appointment of teachers on an ad-hoc basis was not transparent. Many professors and teachers who were appointed were below standard.

Shahi, while presenting the bill said the appointment of teachers on an ad-hoc basis will be made transparent and special emphasis would be given on finding quality teachers. With the university service commission, a committee comprising a chairman would oversee the appointment of teachers in universities and six members of professors and academicians will do the process for appointment of teachers and non-teaching employees in constituent colleges and the affiliated colleges of universities.

The financial powers of the universities and the colleges coming under the university service commission, would be restricted, as they have to take permission from the state government before using their funds.

Sources said the state government was planning to restrict the power of the chancellor as many universities in the state had a tussle several times over the appointment of vice-chancellors. In January this year when the term of vice-chancellor of five universities expired, there was no consensus between the state government and the chancellor over the names of the vice-chancellors.

The chancellor also refused to hold any meeting with the HRD officials over the issue. Eventually, five acting vice-chancellors were appointed by the chancellor’s office, much against the wishes of the state government.

Chief minister Nitish Kumar said with the passing of State University Amendment Act, the number of universities will increase with the state government taking more initiative for the same.

Nitish said old universities will be made centres of excellence, and there would be technological advancement in terms of knowledge flow at these universities.

Leader of Opposition Abdul Bari Siddiqui protested the manner in which the bill was passed. The RJD MLAs staged a walkout of the state Assembly. “The state government started distributing the copies of the bill in the morning. It showed that the government was in no mood to discuss the bill,” Siddiqui said.