Patna, Jan. 7: In an eleventh-hour message to meet the deadline set by Patna High Court, the Raj Bhavan this evening sent a panel of names to be considered for appointment as new vice-chancellors and pro-vice-chancellors of universities to the chief minister’s secretariat.

However, it was not clear how many names were sent to the chief minister’s office. As many as 10 vice-chancellors and eight pro-vice-chancellors are to be appointed afresh.

However, the education department officials said they had not received any list. Education department principal secretary Amarjit Sinha said: “Till late evening, we have not got any list of names from the Raj Bhavan for fresh appointments of VCs.”

On December 7, the high court quashed the appointment of six vice-chancellors, including that of Patna University, and four pro-vice-chancellors made by Governor Devanand Konwar in his capacity as chancellor, saying the mandatory procedure of consulting the state government was not followed before filling the posts

The court had directed the Raj Bhavan to send the panel of names to the state government within a month and after that the state government would give its opinion for fresh appointments of vice-chancellors and pro-vice-chancellors within 30 days to fill up the posts.

However, three days after the high court order, the vice-chancellors got a temporary reprieve when the Raj Bhavan asked them to continue till further notice.

The state government is not preparing any panel of names as it has been left to the Raj Bhavan for making the panel. The opinion of the state government may or may not be accepted by the chancellor.