The education department is planning to fill up posts of teachers across universities in the state once the institutes constitute their respective selection committees, headed by vice-chancellors (VCs).

The selection committees, which will be headed by VCs, will have representatives from the state government as well as Raj Bhavan. Its other members will be senior teachers of universities concerned.

Each committee will have an expert from the subject to which the teacher is applying for. The expert will be either a senior teacher of the university concerned or will be called from some other university.

Higher education director Sitaram Singh said: “The final decision for appointment of teachers will be taken once the state government gives its consent for post creation of teachers in respective universities.” Sources said the department has decided to go for appointment in the old format as the bills related to Bihar State University Service Commission and Patna University Amendment Act despite being passed in Assembly is stuck.

Sources said the state government is planning to appoint around 3,500 teachers in nine universities. The appointment process is tentatively going to start from July-end this year and the focus will be on appointment of teachers for new subjects such as biotechnology and others, the sources added.

Over 40 per cent posts of teachers are vacant in universities, the sources said. In PU, there is half the strength of teachers working. Of around 650 sanctioned posts, there are 390 teachers presently working. The University Grants Commission had asked PU to introduce semester system at the postgraduate level from July 2012.