The newly elected office-bearer of Patna University Teachers' Association (Puta) has decided to take up the promotion issue of teachers.

A few days before completion of his tenure in January, former Patna University vice-chancellor Y.C. Simhadri promoted as many as 32 teachers from nine different subjects to the rank of senior lecturers, associate professors and professors based on the PU syndicate's recommendations.

But teachers had termed the promotions as discriminatory. They had also accused the authorities of showing discriminatory attitude in according promotion to university teachers. The teachers at that time had claimed that only select teachers close to bureaucrats and politicians were promoted, while other deserving candidates were left out.

Now, with Puta in charge, it has decided to take up the issue. Puta's newly appointed president Randhir Kumar Singh said: "Once the new and full-term VC takes charge of PU, we will take up the issue of large-scale anomalies in promotions with him/her." Singh said without disturbing the teachers, who got promotions recently, our fight would be for those teachers who were left out.

On Wednesday, Puta elected its new office-bearer with panel led by Patna College sociology teacher, Randhir Kumar Singh winning all posts. While Randhir was elected Puta president unanimously, other panel members grabbed all posts. Patna Women's College teacher Shefali Roy and M.P. Trivedi, a teacher from Patna Science College, were elected vice-presidents. Abhay Jha was elected general secretary, while Amita Jaisawal and Ershad Ali were elected as joint secretary. Dinesh Kumar Kamal was elected treasurer.