Muzaffarpur, Oct. 7: Babasaheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar Bihar University has come under the scanner for starting vocational courses without the approval of the governor, who is also the chancellor of the state universities.

Former acting vice-chancellor (VC) of the university Rajendra Prasad Mishra had started four vocational courses in 12 constituent and affiliated colleges of the university in February this year.

However, the office of the chancellor has taken a serious note of the matter, as Mishra did not seek permission. A four-member committee under senior Magadh University teacher Shamshad Hussain has been constituted to look into the lapses on the part of university officials before starting the courses.

University inspector Bhaira Singh said: “The office of the chancellor has taken a serious note of the move of the former VC to run these vocational courses without seeking approval.”

He added: “The governor’s office has set up a four-member team headed by Shamshad Hussain to examine the matter. The university officials have played a cruel joke with the students enrolled in the vocational courses.”

Sources said Raj Bhavan has refused to approve the regulations and syllabi of the vocational courses, ultimately diminishing the chances of the university to conduct examinations.

Pro-vice-chancellor Padmasha Jha told The Telegraph: “The former acting VC had started vocational courses in 12 constituent and affiliated colleges, making a mockery of the rules. The former VC did not even think it proper to seek the approval of the governor.”

Jha added that the governor’s office has also been apprised of the discrepancies committed by the former VC. Sources said the university has provided all documents related to the vocational courses to the probe team.

Babasaheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar Bihar University cannot conduct examination in the vocational courses, leaving the enrolled students in the lurch, as the varsity can only conduct examination in courses approved by the governor.

Hundreds of students have enrolled in 12 colleges under the university, including Langat Singh College, Mahant Darshan Das Mahila College and Mahila Shilp Kala Bhavan in Muzaffarpur, Raj Narayan College in Hajipur and others, for courses in clinical psychology, food science and quality control, bachelor of mass communication and fashion designing.

With students on the warpath and the university in a predicament, the ball to conduct examinations is in the court of the gover- nor now.