Patna, Feb. 1: The state government’s decision to set up an inquiry committee to probe into alleged financial irregularities by Patna University vice-chancellor (VC) Shambhu Nath Singh has stirred up a hornet’s nest in the academic circle.

University teachers have taken a strong exception to the government’s action and are planning to seek the chief minister’s intervention into the matter and safeguard the autonomy of universities.

While on one hand teachers and academics have come out in full support of Singh, some students’ leaders, who are opposing the VC, have welcomed the inquiry committee. A source said most of the students, who have welcomed the panel, have political and personal vendetta against the VC and have nothing to do with the university affairs.

The source added that students’ leaders having affiliations with political parties like the JD(U) and the NCP are against the VC and have backed the state government’s decision to have an inquiry committee placed against the VC.

Ranjan Kumar president of the JD(U) students’ union said: “The state government has the power to order a probe against anybody and it does not require the nod from the chancellor’s office.” However, disagreeing with Ranjan’s views another JD(U) leader Rakesh Kumar said: “The state government has all the power to institute probe against any VC but before instituting any probe committee it should be taken into consideration who is demanding the probe.”

Moreover, All India Students Federation (AISF) and All Indian Students Association (AISA), which have been taking up students’ cause in the university, have remained silent on the issue till date.

Khagendra Kumar, a teacher of the university, said: “The inquiry panel set up by the education department against the VC on the basis of complaints made by some self-styled students’ leaders is in utter violation of the PU act and statutes.”

He added that barring a few students’ leaders, none of the students’ union have come up with a particular stand on the issue and have preferred to remain silent. Khagendra added that even students’ leaders associated with the AISF and AISA are mum.

A few days back even deans of various faculties of the university, including humanities, commerce, education and law, have opposed the setting up of the inquiry committee, claiming that officers much below in rank and protocol cannot investigate a case against the VC.

Shiv Jatan Thakur, a PU teacher, said: “For the first time in the history of PU, an inquiry has been set up by the government against the VC on the basis of a complaint made by such elements against which the university has initiated disciplinary actions for their misconduct.”