Gaya: All eyes are set on the Raj Bhavan, as governor-cum-chancellor Satyapal Malik has to approve a formula worked out by Magadh University (MU) on division of assets and manpower (teaching, non-teaching) between MU and its new offshoot Pataliputra University. 

After bifurcation, the parent university will be smaller, with only 19 constituent and one govt-funded minority college. Pataliputra University, on the other hand, will have 25 constituent and three government-funded minority colleges. In respect of enrolment too, three lakh of the nearly five lakh registered students will be attached to Pataliputra University. The truncated MU will be left with 42 per cent of resources, the rest going to Pataliputra University. In respect of area, the parent university retains the entire 460-acre campus while Pataliputra University struggles for 40 acres, the minimum requirement for UGC recognition.

MU vice-chancellor Prof Qamar Ahsan and his Pataliputra counterpart Gulab Chand Jaiswal have kept their cards close to their chest. Ninety teachers working in the nearly two dozen post-graduate departments of the university and about 500 non-teaching employees working in the university’s headquarters have to be apportioned between the two universities.

About the non-teaching staff, MU said 100 of them who either have serious health issues or are nearing retirement age will be kept out of the apportionment purview.  Of the rest, 73 per cent will be sent to Pataliputra University and MU will retain the rest. A varsity official said MU will make a strong claim for retaining the Patna-based guest house.

But the formula has to be vetted at a proposed meet in Raj Bhavan, to be attended by vice-chancellors of Magadh, Pataliputra, Purnea and Munger universities and senior officials of the education department. The meet will be chaired by Brajesh Mehrotra, principal secretary to the Governor.