Chanakya National Law University. Telegraph picture

Patna, April 13: The high hopes of bright students of Chanakya National Law University (CLNU) — the lone law university of Bihar and a dream project of chief minister Nitish Kumar — are on the verge of being dashed for the failure of the varsity authorities to persuade companies to come for campus placements.

The first batch of 80 students of the five-year integrated course is likely to pass out next month but none of the students have been placed till now.

A fifth year student, preferring anonymity, said CNLU students include the kith and kin of the several senior leaders, bureaucrats and judges. “But that has in no way helped in attracting companies for placements,” he said.

Human resource development (HRD) minister P.K. Shahi’s niece is a third year student of the university apart from the son and daughter of HRD principal secretary Anjani Kumar Singh and daughter of Patna High Court Justice A.K. Tripathi.

The students have knocked on various doors, including that of chief minister Nitish Kumar at his much-acclaimed janata darbar on Monday, but in vain.

Today, CLNU students, mostly belonging to the fifth year, went to meet the university officials but there was no one to hear to their grievances.

Abhiraj, a fifth year student of CNLU, said: “We have tried to meet the vice-chancellor, Dr A Laxminath, on several occasions but every time, we are told that he is out of the city.”

When the students went to meet Dr Laxminath and registrar Dr SP Singh today, they were not in their office. Disappointed over the absence of the senior officials, the students locked the official chamber of the registrar and boycotted their classes.

“The vice-chancellor has not been coming to the office for more than 10 days and we have no idea of his date of rejoining. Moreover, the university officials are issuing contradictory statements about his whereabouts. Some officials told us that he had gone to Calcutta, while others claimed that he was away in New Delhi,” said Abhiraj.

The group claimed that most of the students in the varsity hail from middle class families and had enrolled for the five-year integrated law course by paying more than Rs 8 lakh. If they fail to secure jobs, it would clearly reflect the negligence on the part of the university administration.

The HRD principal secretary said: “CNLU is a new university in Bihar and it might not be possible for the university administration to get placements this year.” Singh added that securing placements in courses such as law was not an easy task as compared to courses in management.

Moreover, there is a dearth of teachers and facilities at the varsity. A single teacher is taking classes for more than 10 subjects. According to the recommendations of the Bar Council of India, a teacher cannot teach more than three subjects.

CNLU is the 10th national law university in India governed by the General Council, Executive Council, Academic Council, Finance Committee and Academic Planning Board comprising eminent judges of Patna High Court.