Patna, Jan. 23: It seems the appointment of vice-chancellors (VC) of five universities will take some more time as the Raj Bhavan has announced the names of acting VCs for all of them.

Sudipto Adhikari, dean, education and social science at Patna University, has been given the charge of the same varsit. Rajendra Mishra, dean, social science at BBA Bihar University Muzaffarpur has been appointed acting VC for the same university while Samsu Zoha, head of department of Arabic at Patna University has been named as acting VC of Maulana Mazharul Haq Arabic and Persian University (Patna).

Talking to The Telegraph, Adhikari said: “I came to kn-ow about my appointment as acting VC of Patna University today afternoon after Raj Bh-avan officials asked me to take charge till further orders.” Adhikari’s appointment has cleared the air over who will hoist the Tricolour this year at the Republic Day function at Patna Science College, the venue for the celebrations. Kashi Nath, principal, Patna College, said: “With the appointment of Adhikari as acting VC of Patna University, there is no confusion over who will hoist the flag on campus.” Exercising his powers under Section 13 (2) of the Bihar State Universities’ Act, 1976, governor-cum-chancellor Devanand Konwar made the appointments of the three acting VCs today.

Earlier, on Saturday, the chancellor had appointed pro-vice-chancellor Arun Kumar as the acting VC of BN Mandal University (Madhepura) and pro-vice-chancellor Dinesh Prasad Sinha as acting VC of Jai Prakash University, Chhapra, until further orders.

According to Bihar State Universities’ Act, 1976, the chancellor can make temporary arrangements when there is no consensus between the chancellor’s office and the state government over VC’s appointment. The charge of a VC can be given to the seniormost teacher of the university, the pro-vice-chancellor or the divisional commissioner till a full-time VC is appointed. The term of VCs of the five universities will expire on Monday.

According to human resource development department sources, these appointments were made by the Raj Bhavan as there was no consensus between state government and the governor over the final names of VCs.

The state government had sent a list of 15 names to the Raj Bhavan for final consideration. Moreover, the chancellor’s office had also received more than 100 applications from teachers and academics for the coveted post.

The frontrunners (see graphics) are O.P. Chaudhary, the medical superintendent of Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH), professor N.K. Chaudhary, senior economics teacher at Patna University, A.K.P. Yadav, the chairman of Bihar School Examination Board, Vijay Prakash Singh, senior doctor at PMCH, S.I. Ahson, the pro-vice-chancellor of Patna University, Nihar Nandan Singh, former VC of Bihar University and Ramashish Singh, teacher at Banaras Hindu University. Apart from these few other names which have been doing the rounds include U.K. Sinha, the head of PG botany department, Ramashankar Arya the head of PG philosophy department, V.S. Dubey, the head of geology department in Patna Science College and S.N. Guha, the VC of Aryabhatta University.

The selection of new VCs will be made after consultations between the governor and the chief minister or HRD minister P.K. Shahi. The process is likely to take some time, sources said.

This time, according to sources, the HRD department is in no mood to give full autonomy to the governor to choose the new VCs. Shahi had, in fact, written a letter to the Raj Bhavan pointing out that Section 10 of the Bihar Universities’ Act provides that the appointment of VCs in state universities has to be made by the chancellor after consultations with the state government. The HRD letter assumes importance as last year there was a huge controversy over the appointments of VCs of Magadh University (Gaya), Veer Kunwar Singh University (Ara) and Tilka Manjhi University (Bhagalpur).