Ranchi, March 29: The induction of four teachers into the Ranchi University syndicate has been questioned by a section of teachers, who have described the move as “an act of favouritism”.

The syndicate today released an official notification announcing the nomination of four “senior” teachers as members of the syndicate. Sources said four members finished their terms as members this month.

“The newly-nominated teachers are postgraduate Urdu department head Rafat Ara, postgraduate mathematics department head K.C. Prasad, Cooperative College (Jamshedpur) principal N.N. Thakur and K.S. College (Saraikela) principal G.P. Razwar,” said university spokesperson S.S. Akhtar.

The teachers have been nominated for a year, the sources said.

A postgraduate head, however said that the university has flouted norms while nominating the members. “I have nothing personal against the teachers who have been nominated to the syndicate. But university authorities have ignored a good number of senior teachers, who have never found a place on the syndicate board,” he said.

“The authorities have made it clear that only those teachers will find pride of place who share a rapport with them. The officials think that they are invincible and their decision cannot be challenged, but the fact remains that they have flouted the norms,” he added.

The principal of a city-based college said: “A probe will reveal how the university norms have been flouted to make way for teachers who toe the university authorities’ line. This is a glaring example of favouritism. The deserving teachers have not protested as they are more interested in their academic pursuits. They are least bothered about such administrative posts. But how can we keep quiet?”

Akhtar, however, said: “Postgraduate heads and principals have been nominated to the syndicate according to the provisions of the Jharkhand University Act 2000.”

“Besides, the university maintains a list of names of senior teachers and nominates them accordingly,” a senior university officials said.

But according to a postgraduate head “If the list has been followed, why is it that none of the senior teachers, who have never been nominated to the syndicate and who will be retiring soon, have not been nominated this year.”