Patna: Teaching and non-teaching staff of the newly carved out Patliputra University have not received pay for the past six months because the registrar, Colonel (retd) Kamesh Kumar, has been transferred to Maulana Mazharul Haque Arabic & Persian University.

Colonel Kamesh was transferred in mid-August but did not hand over charge before leaving. "The registrar is custodian of university accounts," Patliputra University pro vice-chancellor G.C. Choudhary said. "Salaries are released on approval by the registrar but files pertaining to pay and pensions are with Kamesh."

The pro-VC, however, said that salaries will be released within a day or two, as Patna University registrar Colonel (retd) Manoj Mishra has been made registrar in-charge of Patliputra University.

Sources said the varsity administration had differences with Kamesh after he joined in April. The differences escalated in July. In August, vice-chancellor Prof Gulab Chand Ram Jaiswal constituted a five-member panel to look into charges of irregularities by Kamesh. It seized his power and he was later transferred.

"We're unable to pay EMIs," said Tariq Fatmi of the College of Commerce, Arts and Science. "The delay was also caused because of bifurcation of Magadh University. There was confusion around transfer of teaching and non-teaching staff," said a teacher.

"But the university administration did not take the initiative to sort out the differences."

Patliputra University was carved out of Magadh University in March with the appointments of new VCs and pro-VCs.