Gaya: A Supreme Court bench has quashed the order of a Patna High Court division bench over the nullification of the Magadh University panel for appointment of aspirants for 22 principal posts under the undivided university.

But the university authorities found themselves in a dilemma after the bifurcation of Magadh University and the creation of Patliputra University, Magadh University has been left with 22 principals, who cannot be accommodated in just 19 colleges.

Several of these 19 colleges have already got regular principals.

There were 44 constituent colleges in Magadh University when the post was advertised in 2008 and the panel was set up in 2015.

The SC bench comprising Justice Madan B. Lokur, Justice S. Abdul Nazeer and Justice Deepak Gupta, while disposing of the civil appeal no. 8435 of 2018, quashed the order earlier passed by the Patna High Court division bench comprising Justice A.K. Tripathi and Justice Rajiv Ranjan Prasad.

On the implementation of the SC order, Magadh University vice-chancellor Qamar Ahsan said follow-up action will be taken after studying the official copy of the SC order.

On 8 February this year, while quashing the panel prepared in 2015, the HC directed the MU authorities to advertise the post afresh and make appointments as per the new rule that makes the post of principal a five-year-long tenure post after which the principals would be reverted to teaching positions earlier held by them.

Under the old system, the principal's post was a cadre post, which meant that the incumbent will hold the position till superannuation/resignation/service termination or incapacitation.

Under the new rules, the principals will have a fixed tenure of five years.

On their part, the MU authorities have got the much-needed breathing time. The SC order would become operational only after 30 September and that too, in case the panel is not challenged by any stakeholder, says lawyer Ashok Kumar.

In the meantime, the university authorities have the option to apprise the court of the new situation arising out of the university's bifurcation.

The MU authorities have been directed to release the panel within two weeks and if the panel goes unchallenged, the appointments based on the panel will take effect after the 30 September deadline.

In case of the panel being challenged within the stipulated time frame, the Patna High Court Chief Justice will refer the objection to a division bench of the high court for appropriate disposal of the objections.