At loggerheads: Rajendra Mishra (top) and Padmasha Jha

Muzaffarpur, June 2: Acting vice-chancellor (VC) of Bhim Rao Ambedkar Bihar University, Muzaffarpur, Rajendra Mishra, is at loggerheads with pro-vice-chancellor (pro-VC) Padmasha Jha since the episode of her alleged assault on a Grade IV employee Sadhna Devi surfaced on May 29.

Sadhna, who works as a domestic help in Jha’s house, submitted a petition to the VC, seeking his intervention to take action against Jha for beating her. The pro-VC had admitted slapping Sadhna twice for remaining absent from duty.

Sadhna also lodged an FIR with Bihar University police station in the matter. The police recorded the statements of Sadhna and others to collect evidence against Jha in this case. Station house officer of University police station Neeraj Kumar said the police investigation was in progress.

The pro-VC said the VC has instigated Sadhna to lodge an FIR to malign her image. Grade IV employees often skipped duty and so she had acted tough on employees, including Sadhna, Jha claimed. The pro-VC alleged that Mishra had amassed huge wealth by indulging in unethical and unlawful practices and demanded a CBI probe into the issue. The pro-VC has threatened to resign if the VC continues to instigate the employees against her.

The VC said Sadhna had submitted him a petition and sought justice for the physical assault. Defending the allegations levelled against him, Mishra said he was ready to face any probe. Mishra added that he would draw the governor’s attention towards the pro-VC’s whimsical conduct.

University employees under the banner of University Employees’ Association and headed by its general secretary Fateh Bahadur Singh observed a daylong strike in the administrative offices here on Thursday to protest Jha’s misconduct. The employees have been striking work off and on since last Monday to exert pressure on the VC to take action against the pro-VC.

JD(U) MLC Maha Chandra Prasad Singh, who is also the patron of Bihar State University Employees’ Association, however, intervened and persuaded the agitating employees to shun the path of agitation. But the talks broke down and work was boycotted today. Their main demands included immediate transfer of Sadhna from the house of the pro-VC, immediate filling up of vacant clerk posts and Grade IV employees on compensatory ground and implementation of the Sixth Pay Commission.