Governor DY Patil (centre) at the Mahabodhi temple in Bodhgaya on Thursday. Picture by Suman

The return of Governor D.Y. Patil to Patna after nearly a fortnight has given fresh hope to the education department of getting a nod for its bills pending with Raj Bhavan.

Some of the important bills stuck with Raj Bhavan are the Bihar University Service Commission Bill, 2011, the Bihar University Tribunal Bill, 2011, the Bihar State School Teachers’ and Employees’ Dispute Redressal Tribunal Bill, 2011, the Bihar State University (Amendment) Bill, 2010, the Patna University (Amendment) Bill, 2010, and the Bihar Private University Bill, 2013.

The Assembly had passed the bills and sent them to Raj Bhavan. Six months or more have passed but the governor, who is also the chancellor of the state universities, has not cleared them.

A senior officer of the education department, who did not want to be named, said: “The department has been waiting for the past six months for getting the nod from Raj Bhavan but the governor is yet to give his approval.”

He added: “As the governor has returned to Patna after a fortnight, we are hopeful that he would give his consent to some of the bills. The Bihar University Service Commission Bill, 2011, pertains to the appointment of teachers at colleges and universities. It requires an immediate nod from Raj Bhavan, as state universities are facing a severe shortage of teachers.”

Many departments in the universities of the state are running with just half the strength of teachers. For instance, Patna University, at present, has only 400 teachers opposed to the optimum of 900.

Education minister P.K. Shahi, at a National Assessment and Accreditation Council programme earlier this week, said the main hurdle that the government had faced over the past six years in its attempt to improve the condition of higher education in the state was appointment of teachers at the university level.

At the function, Shahi pointed out that all steps taken by the government earlier for appointing teachers had proved futile. “The recent plan regarding appointment of teachers through public service commission is also pending, as Raj Bhavan is yet to clear the bill,” he said.

Teachers, however, do not agree with the minister.

Their representatives claim that though Raj Bhavan has not given its nod to the Bihar University Service Commission Bill, 2011, the selection committee of universities should be given power to appoint teachers till the bill is passed.

Federation of University Teachers’ Associations of Bihar general secretary Sanjay Singh said: “The government is unnecessarily making excuses. It claims that it is yet to get the nod for the Bihar University Service Commission Bill, 2011. But, at present, the selection committees of universities can appoint teachers.”