Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Bihar University has decided to confer a Doctorate of Literature (D.Litt) degree on chief minister Nitish Kumar for Nyay ke saath vikash - his punchline during the Assembly elections.

D.Litt is one of the university's most prestigious qualifications, which is awarded for special excellence and original contribution to linguistics, literary and social work.

If Nitish accepts the recommendation of the Muzaffarpur varsity, he would be the first politician to receive such an honour.

Patna University history department head Amarnath Singh, also a syndicate member of the varsity, said: "In 2003, then vice-chancellor K.K. Jha decided to confer D.Litt degree on Lalu Prasad, but there was protest by a section of teachers on the ground that it would set a precedent, as no politician had received D.Litt from state universities till then."

"At that time, Lalu was facing trial in fodder scam and the section of teachers opposed the idea, citing that Lalu had made no such contribution to academics, so giving the award to a person facing the fodder scam would bring bad name to PU," he added.

The searing criticism forced the varsity to hold back its decision. But in Nitish's case, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Bihar University, in its syndicate meeting held on Tuesday, decided to confer D.Litt degree on chief minister Nitish Kumar subject to approval from Raj Bhavan.

V.K. Kanth, academician and rights activist, said: "This is nothing but sycophancy. Nitish is not entitled to such an honour; he has neither such big contribution in education nor in social transformation."