College of Arts and Crafts. Telegraph picture

Patna, Oct. 8: The alma mater of internationally renowned artist Subodh Gupta, the College of Arts and Crafts, Patna, has hope in sight. For, it can expect 11 permanent faculty members following a high court direction.

The Patna University administration is soon going to appoint permanent faculty members in the college that is running with an acting principal and six teachers appointed on an ad hoc basis. Patna High Court, annoyed with the college’s functioning, recently directed the varsity administration to issue an advertisement for the appointments by October 11.

Patna University vice-chancellor Shambhu Nath Singh told The Telegraph: “As directed by Patna High Court, we are soon going to make appointments of permanent teachers and principal in the college. The varsity administration is going to issue an advertisement in all leading newspapers.” Appointments would be made for the posts of assistant professors, associate professors and professors and by February next year, it is expected that they would be finalised.

A permanent principal and teachers after years of uncertainty would be a huge respite for the students, who have been taught for the past five years by former students of the art college. The college, which was founded in 1939, has produced leading luminaries, including Subodh Gupta, Sanjay Kumar and others.

Atul Aditya Pandey, the acting principal of the college, has not been paid for his additional charge since assuming the responsibility last year.