Gaya: The Magadh University syndicate on Thursday changed the rules for appointment of principals. Under the new rule, the post of principal will no longer be a cadre post. It has now become a tenure post.

The principal's tenure has been fixed at five years. At the end of the five-year period, the principals will go back to holding the teaching positions they earlier held. Besides the 44 constituent colleges, the new rule will be applicable to four government-aided minority colleges, as the government-funded minority colleges are mandated to observe the eligibility criteria as fixed by the university.

The syndicate has also put an age limit on aspirants. Though the age of the principal's retirement remains at 65 years, teachers above the age of 60 have been made ineligible to apply.

The age limit has come as a setback for hundreds of aspirants for the principal's post. As of now, 28 of the 44 posts of principals of constituent colleges of the university are vacant. Besides, a threat of dismissal looms large over another 12 principals whose fates will be decided by the Supreme Court. The 12 principals were appointed in alleged violation of norms. The SC is likely to pronounce its verdict soon. The appointments were challenged by Bimal Prasad Singh, the present controller of exams.

Justifying the new rules for the recruitment of principals, MU vice-chancellor Qamar Ahsan said the new rule is in sync with the circular issued by the University Grants Commission. Moreover, Patna High Court directed the university to make new appointments as per the norms. Conceding that a large number of aspirants have automatically become ineligible on account of the age limit, the VC said he can do little in the matter.

Welcoming the MU syndicate decision to change the rule for the recruitment of principal, educationist Shiv Jatan Thakur said the changes were overdue. Thakur also demanded transparency in the appointment process.

At least three former VCs of the university have been to jail in connection with degree and appointment scams.

Two former vice-chancellors are currently on bail and the vigilance investigation bureau was investigating case No. 006/2015 registered against former VC Arun Kumar and 13 others, said Thakur.

The other accused include Brahmachari Surindra Kumar, former VC of Kameshwar Singh Sanskrit University, Darbhanga. The appointment has since been quashed by a high court bench comprising Justice AK Tripathi and Justice Rajiv Ranjan Prasad in December 2017.