When Rash Bihari Prasad Singh takes charge as the new Patna University vice-chancellor (VC) on Tuesday, he will become the first teacher from the varsity in over 12 years to become its full-term VC.

Jagannath Thakur was the last varsity teacher to hold its top post. Since then, many serving teachers were appointed to the top post at Patna University (PU), but as in-charge/acting VCs. The regular VCs were all from outside the varsity.

Sources said that out of the 10 universities getting new VCs, eight have VCs who are from state institutions and only at two universities persons from other states have been made VCs: Harikesh Bahadur Singh for JP University Chhapra and S.K. Singh for LNMU, Darbhanga. Both Harikesh and Singh are from Benaras Hindu University.

Other teachers from PU who have been appointed are Ravindra Kishore Sinha, popularly known as the Dolphin Man, as VC of Nalanda Open University, Patna University dean of social welfare Dolly Sinha as pro-VC of Patna University, and K.N. Paswan as pro-VC of Magadh University.

Welcoming the move, Patna University teachers association president Randhir Kumar Singh said: "For last twelve years academician and teachers from universities outside Bihar were given the charge of VCs of state universities. But many a times it has been observed that the outsider lacks knowledge about university acts and statutes. They would also spend much time in their home state rather than staying at the varsity headquarters."

Patna Science College teacher Anil Kumar agreed: "It is expected that persons from state will be more aware of the problems faced by the institutions here."

However, Raj Bhavan sources said the main reason behind the large number of Biharis appointed as top brass at state varsities is the search committee receiving fewer applications.

"Raj Bhavan had received around 700 applications for post of VCs and pro-VCs at 10 universities, with very few applicants from outside Bihar," said a Raj Bhavan official under cover of anonymity. It has also been observed, the official said, that tenures of "outsiders" have been marked with controversy and many were removed midway.

During his first tenure as PU VC (November 2006 to January 2008) Y.C. Simhadri had differences with then governor R.S. Gavai.

Similarly, Patna High Court observed that Shambhu Nath Singh ( August 2011 to February 2013) was removed midway as there was no proper consultation between the government and the office of the chancellor (governor).