Magician M.S. Bharti performs near Mesra in Ranchi. Picture by Hardeep Singh

Ranchi, March 15: An advertisement issued by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) has taken almost all the colleges and institutions, particularly those under the Ranchi University (RU), by surprise.

For, number of college professors have chosen to apply for the posts of readers, professors and principals in the Dumka-based Sidho-Kanho Murmu University (SKMU) as well as other state universities.

According to JPSC sources, around 11,000 applications have been received for 1,000 posts. SKMU has 31 vacancies in the post of readers and 13 in the post of professors.

Principal of St Xavier’s College, S. Tete, candidly admitted that at least six teachers of the institution have responded to the advertisement. “In the past we have witnessed many teachers leaving our institute for apparently better jobs. This time round, we face a similar threat,” said Tete, adding that six professors had obtained no-objection-certificates before applying.

A.K. Jha, the principal of Dhurwa-based Yogoda Satsang Mahavidyalaya, had a similar story to tell. “Some professors have been serving in the college for the past 20 years without getting any promotion due to the lackadaisical attitude of RU and the state human resource department. They have been trained by us but now they want to leave ,” said Jha.

The Tata College of Chaibasa will be one of the worst sufferers as around 15 of the 28 senior teachers have applied.

Principal of Nirmala College, Priscilla, said, over 10 part-time teachers and many permanent teachers have applied for the vacancies announced by the JPSC.

Marwari College principal Javed Ahmed said seven senior teachers have applied for the post of principal.

Apart from SKMU, the JPSC has invited applications for as many as 31 posts for principals in all the three universities of the state. Of them, 13 vacancies are in RU. The Hazaribagh-based Vinobha Bhave University (VBU) would also get seven new principals. Applications have been invited for the post of principals in three Sanskrit colleges under VBU, too.