The teacher-starved Patna University would face more problems in coming days owing to several professors retiring from service.

On Tuesday, five teachers of Patna University retired from their service after serving the institutions for more than three decades. They are Patna College principal and senior economics teacher N.K. Chaudhary, Hindi department head Surendra Prasad Yadav 'Snigdh', senior teacher of Hindi Balram Tiwari, Patna College Sanskrit department head Ram Gulam Mishra and commerce department teacher Riazuddin Ahmad.

At present, the teacher strength at Patna University stands at 349. Afterthe five retire on Tuesday, the number of teachers will come down to 344. Worse, by December 2015, 22 more teachers will retire and by December 2016, the number of teachers retiring from the varsity will be 27.

Sources said with a large number of teachers retiring from the institution in the next two years, PU would face a shortage of teachers, as there has been no large-scale appointment in the past decade. Also, the state government's plan to recruit teachers based on Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) is unlikely to be complete by the year-end.

A senior teacher at Patna College said: "The large number of teachers retiring from service is a cause of concern for the varsity. Against the sanctioned strength of 810, 349 teachers were working. In the next few months, the number is going to come down further." The teacher added: "Though the state government has not done anything substantial in teacher recruitment, the number of students studying at the institution has gone up."

However, the university administration is confident of getting teachers soon. Patna University pro-vice-chancellor R.K. Verma said: "As BPSC is carrying out recruitment process of teachers, the university, too, will get its share."

Sources said the recruitment process would be delayed as BPSC is yet to complete the short-listing process of candidates who would be called for interviews.

There are around 25,000 students studying at different colleges, departments and 344 regular teachers. Also, there are many departments, which are running with one or more teachers. For instance, the economics department at Magadh Mahila College is being run by J.P. Singh, while the other economics teacher Asha Singh was recently appointed principal. Similarly, at BN College, the history department is run by P.K. Poddar, who many a times, had been given the charge of principal, leaving the institution with no teachers.

Students, naturally, are worried with the sharp decline of teachers' strength.

Pranav Pandey, a history student at Patna College, said: "The state government and the Patna University administration should seriously look into the affairs of the varsity. There was a time when students from different parts of the state used to come here for pursuing higher studies. But with a decline in teacher strength, why would students come here?"

The student added: "Apart from PU losing teachers, senior teachers considered masters in their respective subjects, too, are retiring from service."

The student's statement assumes fact as Chaudhary, apart from being a senior teacher, is also considered a renowned economist. Many students under the tutelage of Balram Tiwari have cleared the UPSC examination in the past.