ABM College in Jamshedpur. (Bhola Prasad)

Call it the case of the vanished university and call in Sherlock Holmes to solve it.

Jamshedpur’s only centre of Nalanda Open University — Bihar’s sole institution of distance education in intermediate, graduation and post-graduation — closed more than four months ago, leaving over 600 students in the lurch. The open university operated from the campus of ABM College in Golmuri since 2005.

Even more interesting, the mandarins of Nalanda Open University are clueless and continue to send honorariums to the four persons associated with its Golmuri branch.

The four are coordinator R.K. Das, ABM College principal who got transferred to Jamshedpur Cooperative College, assistant coordinator S.C. Laha, who retired from ABM College months ago, head clerk S.K. Prasad and peon R.C. Thakur — the last two pleading helplessness in the absence of the coordinators.

No new student was enrolled this year. And it is tough times for 337 students who enrolled last year in the open university. Now, they have to run to Patna for every small enquiry. The rest of the students are more experienced.

Universities offering distance education generally have a centre in the city to cater to the needs of local students.

For instance, the Ignou centre in Jamshedpur Co-operative College has over 2,000 students enrolled in intermediate, undergraduate, postgraduate, diploma and certificate programmes.

Nalanda Open University was set up in March 1987 by an ordinance promulgated by the Bihar government. Later, Nalanda Open University Act, 1995, was passed. After Ignou, it is a well-known institution offering long-distance education in around 94 courses.

Students opt for distance education due to many reasons, jobs being the foremost.

“I enrolled as a student of MA in economics. Now, the centre is closed. We have to go to Patna for our needs. A study centre in the city is a must,” said student Kunal Kumar.

“Until the principal of ABM College or a professor agrees, the centre can’t run,” said head clerk Prasad.

Nalanda Open University officials said they were in the dark. “The staff is getting honorarium according to rules. We don’t know that the centre is not functioning. We have to look into the matter,” said S.P. Singh, registrar.

About time, sir.