(From left) Patna University acting vice-chancellor Sudipto Adhikari, university official SK Gupta and Patna Women’s College principal Doris D’souza at the VC’s office on Tuesday. Picture by Ranjeet Kumar Dey

Patna, Jan. 25: The suspense over announcement of names of vice-chancellors for five universities is set to stretch a little longer as the Raj Bhavan has indicated that it was in no mood to go with the suggestions of the state government.

According to Raj Bhavan sources, most of the names sent by the HRD department have political backing of one or the other party and Governor Devanand Konwar is not in favour of appointing such candidates.

Raj Bhavan sources added that the persons appointed as acting vice-chancellors are deserving academics with no political backing.

Sudipto Adhikari, appointed as acting vice-chancellor of Patna University, is the senior most social science teacher at the varsity.

Similarly, Samsu Zoha, acting vice-chancellor of Maulana Mazharul Haq Arabic and Persian University (Patna), is head of department of Arabic at Patna University.

Pro-vice-chancellor Arun Kumar has been appointed acting vice-chancellor of BN Mandal University, while pro-vice-chancellor Dinesh Prasad Sinha has taken charge ad acting vice-chancellor at Jai Prakash University (Chhapra).

Rajendra Mishra, dean, social science at BBA Bihar University (Muzaffarpur) has been appointed as acting vice-chancellor for the same university.

The appointment of acting vice-chancellors for five universities only suggests that the chancellor of universities and the human resource development department have failed to arrive at a consensus on the final names.

Sources said that state HRD minister P.K. Shahi has written several letters to the chancellor-cum-governor for finalising the names of persons for the coveted post, but there has been no communication from the Raj Bhavan for a meeting.

The HRD department had prepared a list of 15 names for VC posts sent it to the Raj Bhavan.

Shahi had also written to the governor pointing out Section 10 of the Bihar Universities Act which says that the chancellor has to appoint VCs and pro-VCs after consultation with the state government.

Earlier, the state government amid allegations of corruption in appointment of vice-chancellors and pro-vice-chancellors had indicated that it would adopt a “transparent” procedure for such appointments.

To maintain transparency, the government requested the Governor to take the department into confidence while appointing the vice-chancellors.

The Raj Bhavan, meanwhile exercising the powers bestowed with the Chancellor’s office under Section 13 (2) of Bihar State Universities' Act, 1976, appointed acting vice-chancellors for the five universities till further orders.

The announcements of names of acting vive-chancellors were made on last Saturday and Sunday as the term of the incumbents vice-chancellors was to end on January 24.