Over 150 teachers of Patna University face an uncertain future because their promotions are stuck.

The teachers appointed in 1987, 1991, 1996 and 2003 are waiting for promotions and owing to the delay, they are also earning much less than what they ought to.

The delay in promotion of teachers is mainly of those who were appointed in 2003, as before this, teachers appointed in 1987, 1991 and 1996 were given promotion by the university selection committee on several occasions.

However, after 2003, the promotion of teachers at Patna University came to a standstill.

In 2007-08, the Patna University invited applications from teachers for promotion which was to be carried out by the University Service Commission, but in 2009, the commission was dissolved.

In 2009-10, the state government asked Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) to constitute a university selection committee for carrying out promotion of teachers. However, in 2011, the government again made changes giving the power of promotion to university, while BPSC was given the duty of only carrying out recruitment of teachers.

Shankar Kumar, a teacher at Patna University who was appointed in 2003, said: "In 2003, when we were appointed, we were entitled for promotion in 2012 as reader (assistant professor) rank after completing nine years of service. In 2013, we applied for promotion but the issue was not taken up as the university was being run by an acting VC. In February 2014, when the present VC (Y.C. Simhadri) was appointed, we hoped he will take up the matter but he too has disappointed us."

According to university sources, the VC is not interested in taking up the issue as earlier, the university administration had to face an odd situation with the high court objecting to promotions.

The Patna University Teachers' Association (Puta) has met governor-cum-chancellor of universities Ram Nath Kovind and education minister Ashok Choudhary several times to settle the promotion issue but the despite their intervention, the varsity administration failed to solve the problem.

Puta general secretary Anil Kumar said: "The teachers who were appointed on different occasions between 1987 and 2003 are waiting for promotions. Many are still working as reader or associate professor while they could have easily been promoted to the rank of professors by this time."

Anil said: "In 2012, the then vice-chancellor (VC), Shambhu Nath Singh, initiated the process of promotion of teachers. But as Singh was removed from his post midway, the issue was never sorted. After the exit of Shambhu Nath Singh as VC, acting VC Arun Kumar Sinha tried to take up the matter but he was stopped midway by the Raj Bhavan on the ground that an acting VC has no power to take up the issue."

Echoing the views of Anil, Shankar Kumar, a teacher, said: "The present VC, who was appointed in February 2014, promised to settle the promotion issue but even after two-and-a-half years, the VC is yet to find a solution."

According to sources, owing to the delay in promotion, not only are the teachers stuck in the same designation, the crisis has hit them financially.

A teacher who was appointed in 2003 said on the condition of anonymity: "In 2003, we were appointed in the rank of lecturer now known as assistant professor. After 13 years now, we are still working in the rank of senior assistant professor. However, if we had been given timely promotion, we would have been promoted to the rank of professor."

The teacher added: "As we are still working in the scale of senior assistant professors, we get around Rs 20,000 less than what we would have received if we were given timely promotion."

The Patna University follows the career advancement scheme (CAS) for promotion of teachers, which was introduced in 1995.

Under the scheme, if a person is appointed as assistant professor, he/she is promoted to senior scale in four years and in the next 12 to 13 years, the person is promoted to the rank of professor.

When The Telegraph asked Simhadri about the delay in promotion of teachers, the VC refused to say anything initially.

He then said: "As my office-cum-residence was attacked by some All India Students Federation (AISF) members, I am not in a position to say anything on the issue."

However, registrar Sanjay Kumar Sinha said the process for promotion of teachers is under way and it will be sorted out soon. "The varsity is waiting for names of state government nominees, who will be part of the panel taking up the promotion issue of teachers. Once the varsity gets the names, the committee will start the process."