Patna, Nov. 2: The Patna University’s annual convocation will be held in December this year though the varsity administration has not been able to finalise a specific date.

The Patna University administration plans to invite a Union cabinet-level minister to preside over the function as chief guest.

According to sources, names of Union human resource development minister Kapil Sibal is the most preferred delegate in that list.

Moreover, Patna University vice-chancellor Shambhu Nath Singh is camping in New Delhi for inviting Sibal as chief guest.

Singh told The Telegraph: “We have planned to invite Union human resource development minister Kapil Sibal as the chief guest. However, the final decision will be taken only after the minister gives consent to become the chief guest at the function.”

As Governor Devanand Konwar happens to be the chancellor of universities in Bihar, he will also take part in the function.

On its foundation day, the Patna University administration also felicitates postgraduate toppers in different subjects with their degrees.

At the convocation function in March this year, 1,723 students of the graduate and postgraduate departments from the 2009 and 2010 sessions were awarded degrees.

At the convocation function every year, the university used to award degrees and medals to postgraduate toppers only, inviting protest from undergraduate toppers.

However, this year, the vice-chancellor decided to recognise the achievements of undergraduate toppers too with medals for them on the Patna University foundation day in October.

If Patna University holds the convocation in December, the varsity will be holding the same twice a year.

The convocation function, scheduled to be held last year, was held in March this year. Former Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir General S.K. Sinha was the chief guest at last year’s function.

This year, the convocation function will be new not only for the vice-chancellor but also for registrar Vibash Kumar Yadav and pro-vice-chancellor J.P. Singh.

Moreover, university sources said the Patna Univeersity administration has not decided to confer doctorate degree to anyone at the annual function.

Last year, the administration had planned to confer doctorate degree to chief minister Nitish Kumar for the development work carried out in the state in the past five years at the annual convocation.

However, at the last moment, Nitish turned down the offer.

Girls, especially Patna Women’s College students, had dominated the scene at the 95th Foundation Day celebrations of Patna University at Wheeler Senate House on October 1, as they won as many as 25 out of 40 gold medals.

The university chose the day to award toppers in their respective subjects at the graduation-level for the first time in its history. Patna Women’s College students clinched 16 out of 25 gold medals.