Ranchi, Nov. 14: Former vice chancellor of Neelambar Pitambar University Salil Kumar Roy has been appointed the vice chancellor of Kolhan University, while his deputy Md. Feroz Ahmad will fill his shoes.

Governor M.O.H. Farook, also the chancellor of universities, today gave his consent, in consultation with the state government, to the appointments of the vice chancellors, who will be at the helm in the newly opened state varsities.

The appointments were necessitated after the unceremonious exit of former Kolhan University vice chancellor Father Beni Ekka, who stepped down a month ago following allegations of financial misappropriation and several irregularities against him.

Ekka, former director of management cradle Xavier Institute of Social Service (XISS), was asked by Raj Bhavan to quit for taking advance to the tune of Rs 21.53 lakh from the university account in violation of rules.

Meanwhile, Roy, who today returned from Pune after attending a conference of vice chancellors organised by University Grants Commission and Association of Indian Universities at Bharti Vidyapeeth, told The Telegraph his first priority would be to revive the tarnished image of Kolhan University.

“I will try to lift up the varsity’s image. Honesty and financial discipline will be my priorities. I will join office soon,” said Roy, adding that Kolhan University had an immense scope to become a reputed institution, as it covered the state’s industrial belts, including Jamshedpur.

A former professor in Ranchi University’s postgraduate department of chemistry, Roy has a proven administrative track record, having served in the capacity of the pro-vice chancellor of Ranchi University and Vinoba Bhave University in Hazaribagh.

Roy (59), who holds a post-doctoral degree from Adelaide in Australia, had also served as proctor, dean, students’ welfare and the legal cell in-charge of Ranchi University.

For Ahmad, a retired professor from the post-graduate department of zoology in Ranchi University, it is a promotion from his post of pro-vice chancellor of Neelambar Pitambar University. Ahmad had earlier headed Ranchi University’s post-graduate department of zoology.

Both Kolhan University and Neelambar Pitambar University were carved out from the parent Ranchi University last year. While Kolhan University has affiliated colleges in Kolhan — East Singhbhum, West Singhbhum and Seraikela-Kharsawan, Neelambar Pitambar varsity covers Palamau commissionary area.

Principal secretary to the governor, Sudhir Tripathy, confirmed the developments, saying that the appointments were made after consulting the state government and that the governor exercised his powers under the Jharkhand State Universities Act.