University and college teacher aspirants have approached Raj Bhavan with a memorandum to Governor Ram Nath Kovind over delay in issuing appointment letters though the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) had chosen them to be appointed as assistant professors in different universities.

In their plea to the governor, who is the chancellor of state universities, the candidates say that the BPSC had conducted their interviews, declared the results and submitted a list of successful candidates to the education department, but the department is "unnecessarily" delaying the process.

The BPSC had conducted interviews and declared results for six subjects but the education department had given appointment letters to candidates of Maithili only.

The subjects for which candidates had cleared the interview process and are waiting for appointment letters include English, philosophy, economics, physics and psychology.

The interview process for English was conducted between December 15 and 24 in 2015. The result was issued on May 11, 2016, while the commission made its recommendation to the education department to appoint successful candidates as assistant professors at 10 universities on October 31, 2016. But the candidates are yet to receive any joining letter from the department.

Vibhas Ranjan, who cleared the BPSC interview for English, told The Telegraph: "We are worried about our future as Section 5.6 of the statute mentions that the procedure for interviews shall be decided by the commission. The merit list prepared by the commission shall be valid for one year from the date of issuance."

Ranjan said that if the date of issuance is considered as the date on which interview results were published (May 11, 2016 in this case), their results will be valid for only two-and-a-half months.

Another candidate Naushad Alam said: "Being jobless and left with no other option, I am trying hard for a guest lecturer post in the same university (Maulana Mazharul Haque Arabic and Persian University) where I have been selected as an assistant professor."

Richa, another candidate, said: "I had not appeared for other interviews after publication of the result. I am jobless since then."

An education department official blamed "technical hurdles" for the delay.

"The BPSC had prepared the merit list of two universities incorrectly. We have asked the BPSC to provide a fresh merit list following which appointments will be made," the official said, claiming that the issue will be sorted out soon.