Patna, Jan. 24: The outgoing vice-chancellor (VC) of Patna University (PU), Shyam Lal, enacted a dramatic disappearing act today. Within hours of handing over charge to the new incumbent, acting VC Dr Sudipto Adhikari, he left the state capital — lock, stock and barrel.
Lal did hand over the charge to the next incumbent professionally but his vanishing act came as a shock to teachers and the students of the university. Patna University pro-vice-chancellor S.I. Ahson told The Telegraph: “I have learnt that the outgoing VC vacated his official residence in the afternoon but I have no information about where has he gone.”
Sources said several university officials, including Ahson, went to meet the outgoing VC in the morning. Lal assured them of staying in the city for few days. He told them he would move to his native place in Rajasthan after clearing all the formalities.
After handing over the charge to Adhikari, Lal went to his official residence in the afternoon. Sources said a truck came to the VC’s official bungalow thereafter. After loading his luggage on it, Lal moved out of his bungalow without informing anyone.
When The Telegraph tried to contact Lal on his mobile phone, it was switched off. There was no reply to calls made on his landline phone either.
Bharat Kumar Thakur, the PA to VC, said: “Lal has vacated his bungalow. I don’t know where he has gone.”
Randhir Kumar Singh, the general secretary of Patna University Teachers’ Association, said: “I went to meet Lal. But I came to know from the security guards posted at his officials residence that he had vacated his bungalow.”
As per the Patna University protocol, whenever the term of a VC expires, the varsity formally organises a farewell party. Both students and teachers participate in it. For the first time in the history of Patna University an outgoing VC left without attending the farewell party, said a teacher.
Sources said Lal had a turbulent time as the VC of Patna University. There was resentment among the students and the teachers over his policies. Students’ agitation had become a regular affair during his tenure.
