Babasaheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar Bihar University. Telegraph picture

Muzaffarpur, Aug. 24: Taking note of the whimsical functioning of the Academic Staff College (ASC), University Grants Commission (UGC) , has asked Babasaheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar Bihar University, Muzaffarpur, to hand over the reins of college to the state human resource development (HRD) department immediately.

The UGC has stated guidelines that are to be obeyed before appointing the college’s director, teachers, readers and lecturers on temporary basis for conducting orientation programmes and refresher courses.

In a hard-hitting letter recently sent to the HRD department and the university’s vice-chancellor, the UGC has threatened to stop the annual grant to ASC from 2012 for not adhering to the said guidelines.

In the same letter, the UGC has also advised the university to hand over ASC to the state government for proper functioning.

The UGC had created the Academic Staff College to update students on innovative researchers and day-to-day developments. ASC, Muzaffarpur, conducts orientation and refresher courses to teachers of constituent and affiliated colleges under the state universities. The UGC provided annual grant to the college to carry out orientation programmes and refresher courses for the teachers in the larger interest of delivering quality education to the students. But the university, instead of delivering the goods, has of late defied some of the guidelines of the UGC, sources said.

Strongly objecting to the arbitrary actions of the vice-chancellor of Babasaheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar Bihar University, Muzaffarpur, in the affairs of the college, the UGC standing committee has advised the handing over of the college to the government.

The UGC letter also mentions that it would provide grant for the orientation and refresher courses only if the university hands over the college to the government. The other expenses would be borne out by the state government. The UGC has also asked the state government in a plea to complete the formalities immediately.

The newly appointed vice-chancellor of the university, Vimal Kumar, told The Telegraph that he has come to know of the UGC’s new move to hand over ASC to the state government and he would explore the possibilities and seek proper guidelines for the same. The director of ASC, Radha Raman Singh, however, said he has already informed the senior university officials about the UGC’s intention and requested for necessary action.