Rabindra Nath Mukherjee Ayurved College. Telegraph picture

Motihari, Aug. 8: The principal of Ravindra Nath Mukherjee Ayurved College is all set to move the high court challenging the Central Council of Indian Medicine’s (CCIM’s) decision to derecognise it. Reason: CCIM still accepts recognition fee from the institution.

One of the oldest institutions of its kind, Ravindra Nath Mukherjee Ayurved College was derecognised by CCIM in 2007 because most of its faculty members were under-qualified.

Dr K.M. Jha, the principal of the college, told The Telegraph: “On July 9, I had visited CCIM with the college secretary and MLA Pramod Kumar regarding the institution’s recognition. But the institution was not given recognition on the pretext of the absence of qualified teachers. We have started the necessary preparations to sue CCIM in Patna High Court.”

Jha and the teachers of the college do not get any salary from the university it is affiliated to — Bhim Rao Ambedkar Bihar University, raising a question on their survival. Several teachers have quit the institution apprehending bleak future.

According to Dr Vishwambhar Pathak, a senior teacher of the college and also a former principal, the issues raised by the CCIM are based on the practical problems faced by the teachers.

“More than 20 senior teachers have left the college over the past five years for want of salary. As teachers were appointed by the management committee without proper qualifications, the CCIM is not willing to grant further recognition to the college,” said Pathak.

The college had nine principals in the past 17 years because of frequent changes in the college’s governing body according to the changing political currents in the district.

Pathak told The Telegraph: “The changing political undercurrent that has always influenced the functioning of this college has been responsible for the present chaos in the institution, compelling a large number of good and qualified teachers to leave the ayurved college for their survival.”

Pathak added that the other ayurved colleges in the state are still functioning without interruptions despite of poor infrastructure because of interest in the institution of the administration concerned.

Founded by the first chief minister of the state, Shri Krishna Sinha, in 1956, the college has been a troubled baby ever since its first principal, Dr Ramashakar Pathak, retired in 1994. The interference of the governing body in the functioning of the institution led to the present chaos.

Ravindra Nath Mukherjee Ayurved College has its own building, a sprawling campus and a medicinal garden spread over an area of about 15 acres.

Pathak said the college has produced around 25,000 vaidyas. Several passouts from the college hold high posts in the health departments of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana.